365
Days
of

H
e
a
l
ing

Powerful Devotions and Prayers

To Help You Recover and Keep You Well by

Mark
B razee

Harrison House

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from The Amplified Bible. Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan. New Testament copyright © 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are taken from The Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and is used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (PHILLIPS) are taken from The New Testament in Modern English, (Rev. Ed.) by J. B. Phillips. Copyright © 1958, 1960, 1972 by J. B. Phillips. Reprinted by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, New York.

Scripture quotations marked (NEB) are taken from The New English Bible. Copyright © the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (WUEST) are taken from The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest. Copyright © 1961 William B. Eerdmans’ Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Scripture quotations marked (MLB) are taken from The Modern Language Bible, The New Berkeley Version in Modern English. Copyright © 1923, 1945, 1959, 1969 by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

S c r i p t u re quotations marked (W E Y M O U T H) are taken from the New Testament in Modern S p e e c h by Richard Francis Weymouth. Copyright © 1978 by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Scripture quotations marked (RIEU), (WILLIAMS) and (GOODSPEED) are taken from The New Testament from 26 Translations. Copyright © 1967 by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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365 Days of Healing:

Powerful Devotions and Prayers To Help You Recover and Keep You Well ISBN 13: 978-1-57794-817-9

ISBN 10: 1-57794-817-3

(formerly ISBN 1-57794-599-9)

Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 by Mark Brazee Mark Brazee Ministries

P.O. Box 470308

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74147-0308

Published by Harrison House, Inc.

P.O. Box 35035

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74153

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Publisher.

Foreword

I was saved in 1972 while attending Michigan State University. I grew up in a good, Christian home, and as far back as I can remember, I had a love for God.

As a child I knew I had a call of God on my life; however, I ran from God as long and as hard as I could for years. Being a Christian seemed to me to be a boring life with no apparent benefits—except that at the end one would go to heaven instead of hell. I wanted in on the heaven part! But I could not understand a God who would pay the price to purchase me and to cleanse me from my sins and make me new inside yet leave me to fend for myself down here on earth.

When I finally surrendered my life to God and asked Jesus into my heart, I found a life of excitement and adventure beyond my wildest dreams. I also found that God doesn’t leave us helpless down here; in fact, I found just the opposite.

After being saved, I returned to my hometown and started working in the real estate business. Suddenly I began encountering great financial difficulty. After trying everything else, I opened my Bible to see what God had to say about my finances—if anything.

To my amazement, I found that God had already taken care of my financial needs, and through the truths I found in His Word, He would give me faith to walk in His blessings of an abundant life.

I also discovered Philippians 4:19, which says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Over a period of time the truth of that Scripture settled down into my heart, and my financial situation began to change. God had become my source of supply, and He has been faithful to me in the area of finances for more than twenty-five years.

Through that experience, I discovered that God would not only save me but He would also bless and take care of me. But at times I had needs in my physical body as well. Would God make provision for them?

3

I decided to search the Scriptures and see if healing was a part of what Jesus had provided for me through His death, burial and resurrection. And as I studied God’s Word in the area of divine healing, I found truths that have changed my life.

Consistently “feeding” on God’s Word on the subject of healing produces faith in anyone’s heart. Jesus said that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23), and that includes healing for the body.

I believe that the daily nuggets of truth in this book on God’s healing plan will both produce healing to all of your flesh and keep you in divine health all the days of your life.

4

Preface

Suppose you went to the doctor to receive relief from pain or sickness and he told you, “I have a new wonder drug I’m going to prescribe for you. There are no side effects, and it’s guaranteed to heal you of your condition. Not only that, but it will actually bring health to every part of your body, no matter what the problem or ailment! However, you have to faithfully take it exactly according to instructions.”

After hearing that, I bet you’d listen very carefully as the doctor explained how to use this wonderful medicine. You’d want to take your prescription just as instructed so you could receive its full benefits!

You may say, “Well, that’s a nice thought, but it’s all hypothetical.

There is no such wonder drug that can do all that.”

I have some good news for you—that imaginary prescription isn’t imaginary! The medicine that the Great Physician has provided for you does all that and more!

You see, God says that when you attend to His Word, it’s actually life to you and health, or medicine, to your flesh. (Prov. 4:20-22.) When you take God’s medicine according to His instructions, it goes to work in your body to drive out pain, sickness and disease. And it doesn’t stop until it’s made you whole from the top of your head to the soles of your feet!

But in order to walk in divine health, you have to take your medicine every day according to the Great Physician’s prescription. That’s where this daily devotional comes in.

365 Days of Healing provides a daily dose of God’s medicine for you to take as you’re on your way to health and wholeness. Make sure you take your divine prescription as instructed. In other words, don’t just read your daily dose and then forget about it as you go on your way. Read it over and over. Meditate on its truth until it’s planted down in your spirit. Throughout the day, release your faith by saying the confession at the end of each devotion out loud.

As you do so, faithfully acting on the Word you are learning, your health will improve. In fact, I believe it won’t be the same at this time next year, but you’ll see the effects of God’s medicine at work in your body for 365 days—making you healed, strong and whole!

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Plant God’s Word in Your Spirit

If ye abide in me,

and my words

a

abide in you, ye

Many people in the body of Christ today a re n ’t walking in health. They may believe in shall ask what ye

their heads that healing belongs to them, but will, and it shall

they haven’t received the revelation of it in be done unto you.

their spirits.

—John 15:7

To walk in health, we need the basic truths in G o d ’s Wo rd on healing lodged deep down inside us so they can become an effective, working part of our lives. Only then will healing manifest in our bodies.

When I was just beginning to learn how to live by faith, I walked around confessing, “I know I’m healed. I believe I’m healed.” The problem was, my body still felt sick! But I kept reading, studying and meditating on the Bible, and God’s truth about healing finally dropped down into my spirit.

The stronger the Word of God grew on the inside of me, the more I was able to walk in health. Of course, I still have “opportunities” to be sick, but now I choose not to accept them.

What more could we possibly need to know than, “Surely he hath borne our griefs [sicknesses], and carried our sorrows [pains]...and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4,5)?

So when the devil tries to offer you some symptom, just say, “No, I’m not taking that. That isn’t mine. Jesus took my sickness 2000 years ago!”

C o n fe s s i o n

Father, I abide in You, and Your words abide in me.

I choose to believe Your Word, which says healing and health belong to me. I walk in divine health because Jesus took my sicknesses and carried my pains.

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Don’t Wait on God for Your Miracle

a

For therein is

the righteousness

What if you need a miracle, but God doesn’t of God revealed

move sovereignly through the gifts of the Spirit from faith to

to give you one? Don’t be surprised if He doesn’t; He never promised He would. In fact, faith: as it

God didn’t design the gifts of the Spirit for the is written,

Church. He intended them to be divine “adver-The just shall tisements” or signs to an unsaved world.

live by faith.

Of course, God loves us so much that He does —Romans 1:17

manifest spiritual gifts among Christians for our blessing, but He doesn’t expect us to sit and wait to be blessed by a sovereign move of His Spirit.

How do I know that? Look at 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Notice this verse does not say, “For we walk by the sovereignty of God, and we hope He operates quickly.” Nor does it say, “For we sit back and wait for God to move on our behalf, even if it takes forty years.”

No, it says we walk by faith—not sight.

What happens if a person walks by faith? The same thing that happened to the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15:28: “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”

God expects believers to believe—and use faith to initiate miracles. So don’t sit back and wait! Go to God’s Word and find out His will; then reach out by faith and take hold of what already belongs to you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus’ body was broken for me so I could live free from sickness and pain.

I receive my healing now by faith.

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Take God’s Medicine

My son, attend to

my words; incline

a

In the original Hebrew, this Scripture literally thine ear unto my

says God’s Word is medicine to our flesh. (A sayings. Let them

marginal note in my King James Version Bible not depart from

substitutes the word medicine for the word thine eyes; keep

health. ) So think about this: What if someone them in the midst

invented a medication that could cure anything wrong with the human body? He’d be rich of thine heart. For

overnight! People would take that medicine they are life unto

diligently. And yet, if we’d just give God’s prom-those that find ises on healing the same credibility we give the them, and health

medicines developed by medical science, we to all their flesh.

would have 100 times the results!

—Proverbs 4:20-22

(Now, I’m not against medical doctors. In fact, I have several doctors in my close family. Thank God for doctors! They keep people alive until people discover there’s a better way.)

God’s words may be medicine to all our flesh, but like any other medicine, we have to take it. If we just put it on the shelf and look at it, it won’t do any good.

How do we take God’s medicine? We hear it and hear it and hear it.

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When we continually hear God’s Word, our faith hooks up and releases God’s power—and we rise up healed!

C o n fe s s i o n

G o d ’s Wo rd has the power to effect healing in my body. I hear the Wo rd and faith rises in me, releasing God’s power and producing what I need.

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Keep Your Faith Hooked Up

a

And Jesus went

forth, and saw a

Years ago my wife, Janet, and I held four nights great multitude,

of meetings in Capetown, South Africa. We and was moved

noticed the first night that a lady in her fifties was led to the front for prayer and then led back with compassion

to her seat afterward.

toward them,

After the last meeting she shared her testimony and he healed

with us: “I’ve been blind for thirteen years and their sick.

suffered with migraine headaches for a long —Matthew 14:14

time. I was instantly healed of the headaches the first night, but as I walked back to my seat I still couldn’t see a thing.

“But I kept coming back each night to feed my faith,” the woman continued. “The first night all I could see was a mass of gray. But tonight, I can tell what color your suit is. And by the time you come back, I’ll see you!”

This woman kept her faith hooked up once she realized God wanted her healed. Knowing it is God’s will to heal us is the same foundation we all must stand on. In fact, you can take a stand right now on God’s Word by saying from your heart, “Father, I believe I receive my healing! It’s mine now, and I thank You for it in Jesus’ name.”

You may not look or feel any different, but believe you are different. Keep your faith hooked up and hold fast to your confession of faith. Healing may come instantly or over a period of minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months—but it will come!

C o n fe s s i o n

God is able and willing to heal me.

Therefore, I believe I receive my healing.

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Put Your Faith in God

My son, attend to

my words; incline

a

Someone may ask, “If I believe I’m healed, do I thine ear unto my

need to throw my medicine away?” If you have sayings. Let them

to ask, you better not. After all, you aren’t not depart from

healed because you throw your medicine away; thine eyes; keep

you’re healed because you believe God.

them in the midst

Some people hear a message on faith and then of thine heart. For

go out and smash their glasses to pieces. They they are life unto

say, “I believe I’m healed,” and then they walk into walls for six months until they get a new those that find

pair of glasses.

them, and health

Yet, the glasses don’t heal your eyes; they simply [medicine] to all

enable you to see while God heals your eyes. So their flesh.

e v e ry time you put your glasses on, make a prac-

—Proverbs 4:20-22

tice of saying, “Thank God, I believe I’m healed.”

Or if you’re taking medicine, every time you swallow a dose say, “Thank God, I believe I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus.” The medicine doesn’t heal you, but it helps keep your body working right while God does the healing.

Now, if God tells you to throw your medicine away, obey Him. In that case, however, you’ll know it’s God and you won’t have to ask anyone else. So until then, keep taking your medicine. And meanwhile remember—your faith is in God, not the medicine.

C o n fe s s i o n

Medicine may be helpful, but God’s medicine—His Word— is much more effective. I believe God’s medicine is working in me now, making my body completely whole.

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Having Done All—Stand

a

Wherefore take

unto you the

I know a lady who learned after she became whole armour of

pregnant that a childhood case of rheumatic fever had permanently damaged her heart. Her God, that ye

doctor put her on heart medication indefinitely.

may be able to

Later the woman discovered Mark 11:24 that withstand in the

says, “What things soever ye desire, when ye evil day, and

pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall having done all,

have them.” She fed on that Scripture until faith to stand.

rose in her heart, and she believed she received healing for her damaged heart. For two whole —Ephesians 6:13

years every time she took her medicine she’d say, “Thank God, I’m healed by Jesus’ stripes.

Medicine doesn’t heal me; it just keeps my heart beating right while God does the healing.” She kept standing on the Word.

One day the lady went to her medicine cabinet when suddenly the Holy Ghost spoke to her: “You don’t need the medicine now. Throw it away.” (Notice that she didn’t stop taking her medicine until she knew God told her to.) Later she went to another heart specialist who conducted more tests and concluded, “There must have been a mix-up in the original diagnosis because your heart is fine!” Now, heart damage doesn’t just disappear.

No, this woman supernaturally received her healing.

We all want quick results to our prayer of faith—and at times we receive them. But if our answers don’t come quickly, we must do as Ephesians 6:13 says, “having done all, to stand.”

Take hold of God’s Word, stand in faith—and then keep standing.

C o n fe s s i o n

Medicines help me, but Jesus is my healer. I say with confidence, “God’s Word works, and it’s working in me now!”

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Be Free From Condemnation

Beloved, if our

heart condemn us

a

Condemnation and disease go hand in hand.

not, then have we

The devil puts condemnation on you to make confidence toward

you feel bad and to destroy your confidence in God. And

God so you can’t receive from Him.

whatsoever we ask,

God is never the One who shuts you off from we receive of him,

receiving. But if you allow condemnation to because we keep his

operate in your life, it will stop your faith from working every time. Condemnation dogs your commandments,

trail, making you say things like, “Well, God and do those things

wouldn’t heal me. God wouldn’t do anything for that are pleasing in

me. I’m unwort h y. I’ve made mistakes.

his sight.

Something is wrong with me.”

—1 John 3:21,22

The enemy likes to put you under condemnation for past sins, failures and mistakes until you lose all your confidence in receiving from God. The devil knows that if he can just put you under condemnation, he can keep you wrapped around his finger with sickness and disease.

But always remember that the devil is the one who condemns—not God.

The Holy Ghost and your own spirit will only convict you of sin in order to draw you to repentance. Condemnation always comes from the kingdom of darkness.

So get yourself in position to receive from God—absolutely refuse to allow condemnation in your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a child of God. My Father never condemns me, so I do not allow condemnation in my life.

I hold fast to the truth that my Father loves me.

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Freedom From Condemnation

Changes Your Life

a

There is therefore

now no

condemnation to

One time during a service, the Spirit of God suddenly spoke to my spirit: There ’s someone here them which are in

who fell several years ago and injured the bottom Christ Jesus, who

of her spine. Call her up here; I want to heal her.

walk not after the

I spoke out what I’d heard and immediately a flesh, but after

lady came forward. “God just wants you to the Spirit.

know He loves you,” I told the woman. Then I —Romans 8:1

laid hands on her and prayed.

The next day this woman shared her testimony: “Some bad things happened to me as a young child that didn’t happen to my friends. Because I had no teaching, I assumed that God caused these bad things to happen to me. I formulated the opinion that there was something ‘evil’ about me, although I didn’t know what it was.”

I always thought, God loves my friends, and good things happen to them, but He doesn’t love me.

But today at work, it suddenly registered to me: The pain is gone! God called me out, and I was the only one in a whole crowd who had those symptoms. He healed me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

From now on, my life will be different because I know God loves me.”

When God moved on this woman’s behalf, He instantly healed her from pain and sickness and freed her from a lifetime of condemnation. And, as she testified, that new freedom changed her life forever.

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father loves me; He doesn’t condemn me. His best for me is that I walk in healing and health, and I walk in His best.

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Hold Fast to Your Healing With the Hand of Faith

Behold, I come

quickly: hold that

fast which thou

a

Many times people go to large meetings and get hast, that no man

healed. But six weeks or six months later, the take thy crown.

same symptoms re t u rn to their bodies and some end up worse off than before they were healed.

—Revelation 3:11

You may say, “Well, I thought God healed them.” Sure, He did. But the Bible says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). Healing is good, so we have to hold fast to it. And the only way to hold fast is with the hand of faith.

If you’re in a big meeting and God moves with a gift of the Spirit to miraculously heal your body, don’t turn it down. But once you’re healed, run back home to your Bible and feed on God’s Word. Get full of the Word on the subject of healing. Then if the enemy tries to steal your miracle, you’ll be able to say with authority, “No, devil, you’re not taking away my healing! God gave it to me. It’s mine, and you’re not stealing it!”

Rise up and take a stance of faith. Refuse to be moved. Hold fast to your healing with the hand of faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing belongs to me. I meditate on the Word, which is greater than any sickness or disease. The devil can’t make symptoms stick, because God’s Word in me drives them out.

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Healing Is God’s Will

a

For unto us was

the gospel

Some people say, “I know lots of people who preached, as

prayed for healing, and they didn’t get healed.”

But faith begins where the will of God is known.

well as unto

Did those people know that healing is God’s them: but the

will? Did they know it’s God’s will they prosper word preached

and be in health, even as their souls prosper?

did not profit

(3 John 2.)

them, not being

Your faith will never operate beyond your mixed with faith

knowledge of God’s will. Therefore, faith is in them that

simply taking God at His Wo rd, which is His will.

heard it.

So feed on the Word, and establish the truth in your heart that healing is God’s will. Then —Hebrews 4:2

you’ll be able to say with confidence, “Father, You said it, I believe it, so that settles it.”

Act like God’s Word is true—and receive your healing by faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

I know my Father wants me healthy. His Son, Jesus, bore my sickness and pain so I wouldn’t have to bear them.

I receive the healing Jesus purchased for me.

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Don’t Waver

If any of you lack

wisdom, let him ask

a

When we ask God for something we must ask of God, that giveth to

in faith, believing we receive our answer and all men liberally, and

not wavering in doubt. James said the person upbraideth not; and it

who doubts won’t receive any thing of the Lord.

shall be given him.

Well, wouldn’t healing be included in “a n y But let him ask in

thing”? So we could say the man who doubts faith, nothing

won’t receive healing. What man? The one who d o e s n ’t ask in faith. And where does faith wavering. For he that

begin? Where the will of God is known.

wavereth is like a

Sometimes I think we ministers pray for people wave of the sea

in healing lines too quickly—before we know if driven with the wind

t h e y ’ re ready to stand in faith. For instance, many and tossed. For let

folks say, “Well, I sure would like to be healed.”

not that man think

I ask them, “Do you believe it’s God’s will to that he shall receive

heal you?”

any thing of the Lord.

“I hope so,” they respond.

—James 1:5-7

Their words show they’re only hoping they’ll be healed, but they’re not in faith. And the more they’re prayed for without results, the less they expect to receive the next time someone prays for them.

Don’t let that happen to you. Spend time in God’s Word. Find out what His will is regarding your need. Then pray the prayer of faith without wavering in doubt, and your answer will surely come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

I confidently pray in faith for healing. I believe I receive my answer because God’s Word says by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed.

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Real Faith vs. “That Faith Business”

a

For whatsoever

is born of God

Sometimes people say, “I tried that faith busi-overcometh the ness, but it didn’t work.” Yet these people never could have been in faith to begin with. If they’d world: and this

really been in faith, they’d still be in faith. If is the victory

they really believed they received their answer that overcometh

when they prayed, they’d still be believing. But the world, even

if they were just hoping and praying that “that our faith.

faith business” works, then it won’t.

—1 John 5:4

Why is that? Because real faith involves: • Stepping out and believing God for what you know to be His will for your life.

• Finding out God’s will regarding your need and then trusting Him to bring it to pass.

• Believing that God said what He meant and meant what He said and then trusting Him to do what He said.

• Acting like God’s Word is true and expecting Him to do the same.

So forget about “trying” faith. Either you believe the Bible, or you don’t.

Hope will give up, but faith has tenacity. Real faith digs its heels in and says, “I know what belongs to me, and I’m not going to live without it!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe what God says will come to pass. I don’t just hope to receive what I pray for; I know when I pray according to God’s will, I receive what I’ve asked for.

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Discern the Lord’s Body

For he that eateth

and drinketh

a

The major reason many sick people stay sick is [communion]

that they don’t know whether or not God wants unworthily, eateth

them healed. They don’t understand why Jesus’

and drinketh

body was broken. They are “...not discerning damnation to

[not fully understanding or duly appreciating]

himself, not

the Lord’s body.”

discerning the

Many people don’t realize Jesus’ body was Lord’s body. For

broken for their physical health as much as His blood was shed for the forgiveness of their sins.

this cause many

Therefore, they don’t know it’s God’s will to are weak and

heal them.

sickly among you,

I’ve heard people say, “Oh, yes, I believe that and many sleep.

God can heal today. But sometimes He does, —1 Corinthians

and sometimes He doesn’t. We can never know

11:29,30

who will receive their healing and who won’t.”

Yet that isn’t faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known.

Discern the Lord’s body rightly; understand that it was broken for you.

Feed your spirit with the truth that by Jesus’ stripes you were healed.

(1 Peter 2:24.) Keep meditating on that truth until you know that you know God wants you healed. Then you can be sure when you ask God for your healing that you’re truly praying the prayer of faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus’ body was broken for my physical health as surely as His blood was shed for my sins. I believe I receive healing in my body now.

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Don’t Leave the Door Open

a

As the bird by

wandering, as

If you were to leave the front door of your home the swallow by

wide open, any kind of animal—even a skunk— flying, so the

could walk right in. Spiritually speaking, Christians sometimes leave a “door” open to curse causeless

their lives for the enemy’s “skunk” to enter.

shall not come.

Perhaps you’re having trouble with obstacles —Proverbs 26:2

the devil keeps throwing your way and you’ve done everything you know to do. Well, check to see if you’ve left a door open. For instance, by that I mean, are you walking in love? Are you harboring unforgiveness in your heart toward anyone?

You see, unforgiveness stops faith from working, because faith works by love, and love always forgives. (Gal. 5:6.) We may be trying to believe God for healing, but if we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts faith will not work.

Sometimes people think they just can’t forgive. They claim that the devil won’t let them. No, it isn’t the devil who won’t let people forgive; it’s their own flesh—and the flesh can always be put under.

F o rgiveness is not a f e e l i n g ; i t ’s a d e c i s i o n . We may have to re i n f o rce that commitment to forgive again and again, but it’s well worth the eff o rt. When we keep all our doors shut, no skunks can get in to steal our blessings.

C o n fe s s i o n

I refuse to walk in unforgiveness and open the door to the devil.

I won’t allow the enemy’s curse to come back on me.

I choose to forgive, no matter what anyone does. I walk in love.

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Forgiveness and Healing—

Both Are Yours in Christ

Bless the Lord,

O my soul, and

forget not all his

a

S c r i p t u res from Genesis to Revelation show that benefits: who

both forgiveness and healing were provided on forgiveth all thine

the Cross. These Scriptures show that when y o u ’ re forgiven, you can be healed as well. And iniquities; who

when you’re healed, you can also be forgiven.

healeth all thy

Forgiveness and healing go hand in hand and diseases.

cannot be separated. We are made righteous —Psalm 103:2,3

through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and we are healed through the stripes He bore.

You may ask, “But what if I’m sick today as a result of living in sin in the past?” Even if sin opened the door to sickness, you can be forgiven and healed at the same time because of God’s love and mercy.

So don’t take one part of Jesus’ redemptive work and leave the other behind. If one part of God’s plan of redemption is for today, then all of it is for today. Jesus’ body was broken for you as surely as His blood was shed for you. You have as much right to be healed as you do to be saved and forgiven from sin. It’s a package deal, and it all belongs to you!

C o n fe s s i o n

When I received Jesus as my Savior, I also received Him as my Healer. I meditate on all of His benefits. His blood was shed for my sins, and His body was broken for my healing.

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Healing Belongs to You

a

And when he had

given thanks, he

At the moment you found out Jesus’ blood was brake it, and

shed for your sins and you believed in your heart and confessed Him as Lord, nothing could said, Take, eat:

stop your salvation.

this is my body,

Well, the same should be true when you make which is bro k e n

a declaration of healing by faith. You find out for you: this do

the truth in God’s Word that Jesus’ body was in re m e m b r a n c e

b roken for your healing; you believe and of me.

confess Him as your healer. Then nothing can stop your healing.

—1 Corinthians

For too long, Church tradition has taught people

11:24

only half of redemption. All over the world, ministers have preached “whosoever will” shall receive salvation. But many of those same people have also told Christians, “Healing isn’t for today.

God c a n heal, but that doesn’t mean He always w i l l . Sometimes prayers for healing work; sometimes they don’t.” As a result, Christians must get rid of a lot of doubt and unbelief before they can take hold of healing.

It’s different on the mission field. Every time Janet and I visit a place where the Gospel has never been preached, we tell the people Jesus paid the same price for their sins and their sicknesses. The people eagerly receive and get saved and healed at the same time.

Sickness is the price we pay for not understanding the Atonement. But bless God, we’re as healed as we’re saved. Healing belongs to whosoever will believe. Healing belongs to you!

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing belongs to me just as much as salvation does.

Jesus is as much my healer as He is my Savior.

I walk in the full benefits of my redemption.

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Use Your Authority

And I will give

unto thee the keys

a

Many times wrong thinking opens the door to of the kingdom of

the devil in Christians’ lives. They may assume heaven: and

God allows sickness to come. But in reality, it’s whatsoever thou

not God who does it—it’s they themselves. They shalt bind on earth

don’t use the authority Jesus gave them.

shall be bound in

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus was talking to Peter just after he had received the revelation that heaven: and

Jesus is the Christ. Another translation of this whatsoever thou

passage says, “I will give unto thee the keys of shalt loose on

the kingdom of heaven: whatever you forbid on earth shall be

earth, Heaven shall forbid, and whatever you allow on earth, Heaven shall allow” (v. 19 RIEU).

loosed in heaven.

You see, Jesus has all authority. But as the Head —Matthew 16:19

of the Church, He has given us the same authority He has.

God expects that you resist the devil. You use the name of Jesus. You stand steadfast in the faith. You neither give place to the devil. In other words, Jesus is saying, “Whatever you forbid, I’ll forbid. Whatever you allow, I’ll allow. You make the decision, and I’ll back you up.”

Authority is like a traffic policeman who doesn’t have the physical power to stop a car. But when he holds up his hand, the authority of the city that hired him stands behind him.

So use your God-given authority to shut the door on the devil, and all of heaven will back you up.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus said what I allow, He’ll allow; and what I forbid, He’ll forbid. I refuse to allow sickness in my body.

Body, come in line with God’s Word in Jesus’ name.

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God Will Back You Up

a

And I will give

unto thee the keys

Sometimes we ask, “Why did God allow this of the kingdom of

illness to come into my life?” But the truth is, we allowed it.

heaven: and

It’s like driving down a highway at breakneck whatsoever thou

speed and then telling the policeman who pulls shalt bind on

you over, “Sorry, officer, I didn’t realize the earth shall be

speed limit wasn’t 110 miles an hour.”

bound in heaven:

The policeman would n o t s a y, “Bless your and whatsoever

heart. Forgive me, I shouldn’t have pulled you thou shalt loose

over. I didn’t know you were ignorant of the on earth shall be

l a w.” No, he’d give you a ticket anyway.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

loosed in heaven.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. You may —Matthew 16:19

s a y, “I didn’t know I allowed the devil to keep me f rom receiving healing.” Yes, but you have the Bible which gives you all the answers. Ignorance of the Wo rd is no excuse.

Sometimes we don’t receive healing because we allow a door to stay open to the devil. Often the open door is the result of wrong thinking, which is usually the result of wrong teaching. Wrong thinking produces wrong believing, and wrong believing produces wrong results.

Bottom line, if you forbid the devil’s strategies against you, God stands behind you. If you do nothing, God stands behind you. Whatever you do, God backs you up. So choose wisely.

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father has given me authority to choose what to allow or forbid in my life. So I allow only God’s thoughts in my mind and divine health in my body.

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God Gives Abundant Life—Not Sickness

The thief cometh

not, but for to

a

Do you need healing? Make sure your thinking steal, and to kill,

is in line with God’s Word. Wrong thinking is and to destroy: I

one of the major things that can hinder you am come that they

from receiving your miracle.

might have life,

For example, some people think God causes sick-and that they ness—by sending, commissioning, planning, or might have it more

allowing it. There f o re, they automatically con-abundantly.

clude, “Sickness must be God’s will for me. After all, He allowed this sickness to come on me.”

—John 10:10

But when people say that, in essence they mean, “Yes, I know the devil is the author of sickness, but somehow this sickness is God’s will for me. God saw I needed this to teach me something, so He and the devil are somehow working together.”

No way. The devil hasn’t worked with God for a long time. Long ago he was an archangel named Lucifer, created by God and living in heaven.

But sin and iniquity were found in Lucifer, and he was thrown out of God’s presence. (Isa. 14:12,14.)

Ever since then, God and the devil have never worked together. They are not a team. How in the world could they work as a team? Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The truth is, Satan tries to destroy you, while God sacrificed His only Son to offer you abundant life. Make sure your thinking is in line with God’s Word in order to receive that abundant life.

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father doesn’t put sickness on me. He only gives me life and wants me well. I walk in the abundant life and health my Father has given me.

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Refuse To Allow Sickness in Your Life a

Then Peter said,

Silver and gold

Sometimes people say, “God allowed the devil have I none; but

to put this sickness on me.” No, they allowed it.

God had no choice in the matter because He such as I have

will not override people’s wills.

give I thee: In the

Most of us have been guilty of the same thing at name of Jesus

one time or another. We allow the devil to put Christ of

sickness on us because we don’t use our God-Nazareth rise given authority. God doesn’t allow sickness in our up and walk.

lives as a part of His divine plan for us; He only —Acts 3:6

allows sickness when He doesn’t have a choice.

You see, God has bound Himself to His Word.

He said, “Whatever you forbid, I’ll forbid. All of heaven stands at attention ready to back you up. But if you allow it, I have to allow it. Whatever decision you make, I’ll back you up on it.” (Matt.

18:19 RIEU.)

Think about it. God doesn’t have sickness to give. Remember, He lives in heaven. Do you think you’ll see a lot of sick people lying around when you get to heaven? No. There is no sickness and disease up there.

So how would God give us sickness? Would He take a trip to hell and b o rrow some from the devil? No. God is the One who sent sickness down to hell to begin with through the death, burial, and re s u rre c t i o n of Jesus. And if He didn’t want it up in heaven, He sure doesn’t want it on His children.

C o n fe s s i o n

I refuse everything the devil has to offer.

I won’t allow sickness in my body, and all of heaven backs me up.

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Set Free by Divine Knowledge

My people are

destroyed for lack

a

of knowledge.

Sometimes we try to discover how we can receive our healing when what we really need —Hosea 4:6

to do is find out why we got sick to begin with.

If we can find the answer to that question, we can correct the problem and be healed.

Why do Christians get sick? There are many different reasons, but a primary one is a lack of knowledge of God’s Word. Isaiah 5:13 says, “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge.” The Amplified Bible says, “Therefore my people go into captivity [to their enemies] without knowing it and because they have no knowledge [of God].”

Many people are bound up and taken captive by the enemy through sickness and disease. Yet they think their physical condition is God’s will because they don’t have knowledge of His Word. These people say, “I’m sick for the glory of God!” because they don’t know that Jesus paid the price for their healing. They don’t have knowledge of the Word, so they are taken captive—and they don’t even know it.

But when you take hold of the Word in your heart, it transforms your life.

You’re set free from the notion that God wants you sick for some purpose of His own, and you can receive the healing that rightfully belongs to you as a covenant child of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God is the God who heals me and

gets glory from my being healthy.

Therefore, I walk in healing and health.

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Look in God’s “Will” To Find His Will a

The Spirit itself

beareth witness

In order to be healed, we need to be sure of the answers to certain questions: Is it God’s will for with our spirit,

us to be healed? Does He want us sick for a that we are the

purpose or to teach us something? Does God children of God:

have anything to do with disease?

and if children,

The only way we can find out God’s will on any then heirs; heirs

subject is to read the “will” He left for us.

of God, and joint-

You see, suppose I had a wealthy relative who heirs with Christ;

died and left me not only an inheritance, but also if so be that we

a will explaining what was in the inheritance. I suffer with him,

could sit back for years and say, “I wonder what that we may be

the will says; I wonder what was left to me.” Or also glorified

I could go read the will and find out.

together.

It’s the same with God. Jesus provided an inheritance for us because God first appointed —Romans 8:16,17

Jesus heir of all things. Hebrews 1:2 says God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

God also made us joint-heirs with Jesus. Now, we need to read the will to find out what God’s will is. The New Testament is God’s last will and testament, and it will tell us what belongs to us as children of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father wrote a will to tell me what is mine and sealed it with the blood of Jesus.

Healing is part of that inheritance, and it belongs to me now.

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God Is a Rewarder

But without faith

it is impossible

a

Do you want to receive God’s covenant promise to please him:

of healing? Then you have to believe that God for he that cometh

is, and you have to believe He is a rewarder. If to God must

you don’t believe you will receive a reward believe that he is,

from Him, you won’t.

and that he is a

Most of the time people don’t go to God in faith.

rewarder of them

They may believe that God is, but they aren’t that diligently

sure He is a rewarder. So they say, “Dear God, seek him.

if it is Your will, please do this for me.”

But you can go to God in faith, knowing exactly —Hebrews 11:6

what His will is because you have His will to read. For example, you never have to say, “I wonder if it’s God’s will to heal me?” You can just read the Bible and find out. It’s His last will and testament to you.

When someone makes out a will, no one else has the right to take away from it or add to it. In the same way, we don’t have a right to change God’s will to us. All we can do is read what belongs to us and live by it.

So study God’s last will and testament until you get these two truths lodged deep in your heart: God is, and God is a rewarder. Then diligently seek Him for your healing, and receive your reward.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe my God is. He is alive, He is powerful, and He is a rewarder.

I live in line with His Word and receive, all the benefits He has provided for me.

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God’s Will Be Done in Your Life

a

And he said

unto them, When

Notice what Jesus said: “Thy will be done, as in ye pray, say, Our

heaven, so in earth.” In other words, God’s will on earth is no diff e rent than God’s will in heaven.

Father which art

in heaven,

I don’t plan to see any sickness when I get to heaven, do you? Of course not! There’s no sick-Hallowed be ness in heaven because sickness cannot exist in thy name.

the presence of God.

Thy kingdom

But how do you know what God’s will is here on come. Thy

earth? Well, find out what His will is in heaven, will be done,

and you’ll have a pretty good idea. Jesus said, as in heaven,

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth so in earth.

as it is in heaven. ”

—Luke 11:2

So if health is God’s will in heaven, health is God’s will down here on earth too. If He’s against sickness there, He’s against sickness here.

God wants you healthy once you’re in heaven, and He wants you healthy while you’re still here on earth. So let God’s kingdom come and His will be done in your life. Receive your healing and walk in divine health.

C o n fe s s i o n

Divine health is God’s will for me even while I’m here on the earth.

I walk in health because Jesus bore all my sicknesses and pains.

Therefore, in Jesus’ name I am healed.

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God Wants To Heal All

Is any sick among

you? let him call

a

James was writing to believers, and he asked, for the elders of

“Is there any sick among you?” Notice He didn’t the church; and let

say, “If there is any sick among you, let him them pray over

pray and see if—by some chance—God might him, anointing

want him healed.” Nor did James say, “Let him him with oil in the

fast and pray for three weeks to see if it’s God’s will to heal him.”

name of the Lord:

and the prayer of

Nothing is said in this Scripture about whether i t ’s God’s will or not. And it doesn’t say, “The faith shall save the

L o rd shall raise him up—if he’s one of a few sick, and the Lord

destined to get healed because God is in a shall raise him up;

good mood.”

and if he have

James just tells us, “If there’s any sick in the committed sins,

church, let the elders pray for him and anoint they shall be

him with oil in the name of the Lord.” Then forgiven him.

James says, “And the prayer of faith shall [not might] save the sick, and the Lord shall raise —James 5:14,15

him up” (v. 15).

God isn’t confused or mixed up. If it weren’t His will for all to be healed, why would He tell sick people how to get healed? God reveals His will right here in this Scripture, and His perfect will is to heal all—anytime and anywhere.

C o n fe s s i o n

God has given me several ways to receive healing.

According to His Word, when I ask church elders to anoint me with oil and pray, the prayer of faith will raise me up.

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Healing and the Gospel Are for All

a

And he said unto

them, Go ye into

At times I’ve prayed, “Lord, I laid hands on B rother So-and-so, and he didn’t get any all the world,

better.” But notice in this passage God didn’t and preach the

say, “Just go lay hands on the sick, and they will gospel to every

recover.” No, He starts out by saying, “Go into creature. He that

all the world and preach the Gospel to every believeth and is

creature.” Then He says, “These signs shall baptized shall be

follow them that believe….”

saved; but he that

We aren’t supposed to just go around looking for sick people to lay hands on. They will run believeth not

away if we do that. First, we have to tell them shall be damned.

the good news of the Gospel—that it’s God’s will And these signs

to heal them. Then we lay hands on them; then shall follow them

they will recover.

that believe; In

We make a mistake rushing to lay hands on my name...they

people without teaching them to cooperate with shall lay hands

the Wo rd. I remember a case like that. People laid on the sick, and

hands on a man to pray for him, but the moment they were done, he said, ”Well, that sure didn’t they shall recover.

work.” He didn’t expect it to work because no one —Mark 16:15-18

had taught him how it was supposed to work.

If that same man had heard the Gospel first, he could’ve gotten in agreement with the person praying for him. He could’ve known for himself that God’s will is healing for all.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m always ready to give God’s Word to someone in need because it will produce faith in me and all who hear it.

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Jesus: The Image of the Father

[The Father] hath

delivered us from

a

The world has a warped idea of what God is like.

the power of

People often think God is causing all their pro b-darkness, and hath lems. They have a mental picture of God sitting translated us into

up in heaven with a big club waiting for them to the kingdom of his

make a mistake so He can hit them on the head.

dear Son: in whom

In other words, they think God makes them sick, steals their money, or kills their families.

we have redemption

But if you want to know what God is really like, through his blood,

look at Jesus. Jesus gives us a picture of God. In even the forgiveness

Colossians 1:15, Jesus is called “the image of the of sins: who is the

invisible God.” Jesus Himself said, “If you’ve image of the

seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” (John 14:9.) invisible God, the

Follow Jesus’ earthly ministry to see God’s will firstborn of every

in action. You see, everything Jesus did (or creature.

didn’t do) represented God’s will.

Jesus led a perfect, sinless life. He never stole, —Colossians 1:13-15

never killed, and never destroyed. He never made anyone sick and never left anyone sick who believed Him to be healed. He never said, “This sickness is here to teach you something, to perfect you, or to make you more pious.” He never said, “This sickness is good for you.”

Jesus acted out God’s will for mankind. He never refused healing to anyone, and He won’t refuse healing to you.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus healed everyone who came to Him in faith.

Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so I come to Him in faith, knowing He will heal me too.

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God Wants To Heal All

a

And ye shall

know the truth,

People who say, “God doesn’t heal anymore,”

and the truth

evidently never read the Bible. Hebrews 13:8

shall make

says Jesus is the same now as He’s ever been.

So if Jesus healed while He walked on this you free.

earth, He still heals today.

—John 8:32

Most people believe it’s God’s will to heal some.

But the big question remains, “Is it God’s will to heal all? ” Some say, “Well, that can’t be true because Brother So-and-so didn’t get healed.”

If we go by people’s experiences, we may conclude it isn’t God’s will to heal everyone. But we must gather all the experience, tradition, doctrine, theory, and denominationalism we’ve ever heard and push it aside. We must look at nothing but God’s Word and find out what God has to say.

For example, if you wanted to know my will about something, I hope you wouldn’t go ask some guy on the street corner who doesn’t know me.

There’s no telling what that person would say.

Yet, most of us have done that with God. When we’ve wanted to know God’s will, we’ve sometimes gone to people who don’t know Him. They may have given us wild opinions, not having the faintest idea what the Bible says.

To find God’s will on a subject, we must go to Jesus, the express image of God. Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). He also said, “…The truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Thank God, the Bible is truth, and it says God heals all.

C o n fe s s i o n

The truth is God wants to heal me. I’ve found it in the Word; I know it’s God’s will. So I believe I receive my healing now.

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Look to Jesus To Know the Father

Philip saith unto

him, Lord, shew us

a

Philip had one burning desire—for Jesus to the Father, and it

show them the Father. You see, the world didn’t sufficeth us. Jesus

understand God. They didn’t know what God saith unto him,

looked like. Then Jesus came along as love Have I been so long

manifested in the flesh and said, “If you want to time with you, and

know what the Father looks like, look at Me. I’ll show you what the Father looks like, sounds yet hast thou not

like, and acts like. I only do that which I see My known me, Philip?

Father do.” (John 5:19.)

he that hath seen

Jesus also said in that verse, “The Father in me hath seen the

Me does the work. I’m not healing people; G o d Father; and how

is healing them through Me.” There f o re , sayest thou then,

e v e rything Jesus did had to be the will of God.

If God didn’t supply the power, Jesus couldn’t Shew us the Father?

give it out.

Believest thou not

Jesus acted out God’s will for the human race.

that I am in the

And what did Jesus do? He healed all who Father, and the

would receive healing in faith. What didn’t He Father in me? the

do? He never made people sick or left people words that I speak

sick who believed to be healed.

unto you I speak

Study the ministry of Jesus, so you’ll know for a not of myself: but

fact healing is God’s will for all—for you.

the Father that

dwelleth in me, he

C o n fe s s i o n

doeth the works.

Jesus revealed the Father’s desire to

heal His people. That means my Father

—John 14:8-10

heals me when I come to Him in faith.

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Jesus—The Will of God in Action

a

And when Jesus

was come into

When Jesus came to Peter’s house, Jesus didn’t Peter’s house, he

fast and pray to see what the Father wanted Him to do. He knew God’s will is healing for all.

saw his wife’s

Therefore, it had to be God’s will for Peter’s mother laid, and

mother-in-law to be healed and whole.

sick of a fever.

You can come to that same conclusion yourself And he touched

just by studying the Gospels. For example, her hand, and

think about this: How many people did Jesus the fever left her:

walk up to and make sick? None. How many and she arose,

people did He tell, “This sickness is for the glory of God, so keep it awhile”? None. How and ministered

many times did He say, “I can’t heal you”?

unto them.

Never. How many people who wanted healing —Matthew

did He turn down? Not one. How many times

8:14,15

did He say, “Wait until later; I’ll do it in My own good time”? Never.

Remember, Jesus’ every move in His earthly ministry was the will of God in action. So when we see that Jesus never turned anyone down, that tells us that God never turns anyone down. Jesus never said, “Wait,” so God never says, “Wait.” Jesus never said, “This sickness is good for you,”

so God never says, “This sickness is good for you.” Jesus did nothing but set people free; therefore, God does nothing but set people free.

Jesus is all the proof we need that God’s will is to heal everyone.

C o n fe s s i o n

Just as Jesus never changes, so also my Father never changes.

Healing was His will then, and healing is His will for me now.

Let Your will be done, Lord!

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Hear and Be Healed

And [Jesus] came to

Nazareth, where he had

a

There’s a definite connection between hearing been brought up: and, as

and being healed. You can find several his custom was, he went

instances in the New Testament where people into the synagogue on

refused to hear the Word and therefore were the sabbath day, and

not healed.

stood up for to read. And

In Luke 4 Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah, there was delivered unto

but the people wouldn’t hear it. In fact, verse 28

him the book of the

says, “All they in the synagogue, when they prophet Esaias. And

heard these things, were filled with wrath.”

when he had opened the

If the people had been willing to hear, they book, he found the place

would’ve been filled with faith to re c e i v e where it was written,

healing—and all the other benefits of believing The Spirit of the Lord is

in Jesus. But they missed out because they upon me, because he

refused to hear.

hath anointed me to

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, we never find preach the gospel to the

Him leaving anyone sick—except people who wouldn’t receive from Him. You see, God won’t poor; he hath sent me to

force anything on anyone; He’s a gentleman.

heal the brokenhearted,

But when you come to God in faith, He delights to preach deliverance to

to heal you and set you free.

the captives, and

recovering of sight to the

C o n fe s s i o n

blind, to set at liberty

I choose to hear God’s Word and accept

them that are bruised, to

His will, which is my healing. I will not preach the acceptable

allow doubt and unbelief to keep

year of the Lord.

me from receiving from God.

—Luke 4:16-19

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Ask What You Will

a

If ye abide in me,

and my words

From this Scripture we understand it’s God’s abide in you, ye

will to heal everyone, because it’s God’s will to shall ask what

answer prayers. God promises to answer any prayer that lines up with His Word.

ye will, and it

shall be done

We know that healing lines up with God’s Word because Psalm 107:20 tells us God sent His unto you.

Word to heal us. We know healing lines up with —John 15:7

His Word because Matthew 9:35 tells us Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing every sickness and disease among the people. We know healing lines up with His Word because Hebrews 13:8

says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done.”

“Lord, what if I will to be healed?” That’s good news because God’s will is to heal you. And if healing is what you will, too, then you can be sure it shall be done unto you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His words abide in me.

So I believe I receive my healing today.

By faith, it is done.

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Ask and You Shall Receive

And in that day ye

shall ask me

a

One way we know our heavenly Father wants nothing. Verily,

to heal us is by this verse, which tells us that He verily, I say unto

wants to answer our prayers. Out of all the you, Whatsoever

things He said we could ask for in prayer, Jesus ye shall ask the

never excluded healing. In fact, He said, “Verily, Father in my

verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” He name, he will give

didn’t say, “He will give you whatsoever you it you. Hitherto

ask—unless it’s healing.”

have ye asked

Jesus said, “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your nothing in my

joy may be full.”

name: ask, and

“What if I ask for healing?” you may say.

ye shall receive,

“Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may that your joy

be full.”

may be full.

“What if it’s a physical need?”

—John 16:23,24

“Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Does God want us healed? He must, because He promised to answer our prayers—including our prayers for healing—when we pray to Him in Jesus’ name.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s ears are open to my prayer for healing.

I receive what I pray for in Jesus’ name, and I am filled with joy.

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Our Creator and Our Healer

a

For I am the

Lord that

As a young man, I had problems with my healeth thee.

t h roat closing up on me. I’d almost panic at times because it became so tight I could —Exodus 15:26

h a rdly swallow.

Finally I saw an allergist who informed me that I was allergic to weeds, most foods, dust, and other hard-to-avoid allergens. He gave me regular serum injections, and for the first time in years, my throat loosened up.

I was supposed to take those injections for life.

Shortly after that I was born again and home from college for the summer leading youth meetings five to seven nights a week. We sang and prayed a lot at the meetings, but we didn’t have any real teaching because I was the leader and didn’t know anything. I certainly couldn’t teach the Word—I didn’t even know God could heal.

One day we were all praying when I felt my throat tighten again.

Suddenly panic and fear hit me as I realized I left my serum at school. (I d i d n ’t know I’d been delivered from fear when I’d gotten saved.) But gradu a l l y, a deep realization that God is God began to rise up from my spirit.

Quietly, I said, “Lord, if You’re smart and powerful enough to design this body, You sure can fix one defect. Would You do that for me?” Minutes later my throat returned to normal, and it has never tightened up like that again.

My healing came the moment I realized God could heal. That revelation changed my life. God created me—surely He could fix me.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God is the Creator of the universe who upholds all things by the Wo rd of His power. He’s the same God who’s able and willing to heal me.

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Getting Past the Invisible Wall

The heart of the

prudent getteth

a

After God healed me of allergies, I went thro u g h knowledge; and

a real struggle the next time I needed healing.

the ear of the

The thought came to me, Yeah, God’s able to wise seeketh

heal me, but is He willing? (I bet you know what knowledge.

that voice in your mind sounds like.)

—Proverbs 18:15

So the next time I prayed for healing I said, “ L o rd, I sure would like You to heal me—if Yo u really want to.” But I wasn’t healed, and I c o u l d n ’t figure out why. I prayed again, “Lord, here I am. You did it last time; why don’t You do it this time?”

I didn’t understand that I’d hit an invisible wall because, although I knew God was able to heal, I still didn’t know He was willing.

Then came the thought, Maybe God wants me sick for a purpose. I didn’t get that thought from a church or a book; it came straight from the source of doubt and unbelief. That thought came to my mind and took root. For years, I had trouble getting rid of that wrong thinking.

Yet, that’s the point most Christians have reached in their spiritual walk.

They know God is able, but they aren’t sure He’s willing.

The truth is, your faith will never operate beyond your knowledge of God’s will. So root out wrong thinking. Study God’s Wo rd until you know it’s G o d ’s will to heal everyone. Then take God at His Wo rd for your healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father wants me well, and I root out every thought otherwise.

God sent His Word to heal me, and I take Him at His Word.

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5

God Is Able and Willing

a

And the people,

when they knew

When I first started hearing the truth of God’s it, followed him:

Word about healing, I studied the subject with great interest. But whenever symptoms hit my and he received

body, my first thought was, I wonder why God them, and spake

allowed this to happen? It took me years to get unto them of the

rid of that doubt and unbelief the enemy had kingdom of God,

planted in me.

and healed them

When we know God’s ability but doubt His will-that had need ingness, it’s like slapping Him in the face. Stop of healing.

and think about it. Suppose you said to me, “Mark, I have a real problem, and I know you’d —Luke 9:11

help me if you could. But I realize you don’t have the capability or the equipment to help me.” I’d feel good that you thought I cared enough to help if I could.

But suppose you said, “Now, Mark, I have a real problem. I know you could help me if you wanted to, but I don’t know if you want to.” It would hurt my feelings that you found me so uncaring.

How much more, then, does it hurt our Father when we say to Him, “I know You’re able, Lord, but I don’t know if You’re willing”? The worst part is that God’s Word tells us He is willing, but many of us haven’t bothered to search out that truth.

Don’t insult God by doubting His willingness to heal you. He’s able and willing. You have His Word on it.

C o n fe s s i o n

I won’t insult my Father by doubting His willingness to heal me.

I honor Him by receiving healing today.

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6

“That It Might Be Fulfilled”

When the even

was come, they

a

What if God didn’t want to heal everyone who brought unto him

came to Jesus? What if God didn’t want to heal many that were

a few people who slipped into the crowd and possessed with

received their healing from Jesus before God devils: and he

knew about it?

cast out the spirits

No, that couldn’t happen. You see, for Jesus to with his word,

heal anyone it had to be God’s will because and healed all

Jesus only did what He saw His Father do.

that were

(John 5:19.)

When Jesus walked in to a multitude, He cast —Matthew 8:16

out all the devils and healed all the sick. He never refused one person; He never turned anyone down. He never said, “I’ll heal you later; you need to learn a few things before you get healed.” Instead, He always said things like, “I will—be thou clean,” or “I will—come and be healed.”

Jesus always healed all who were in faith. Here’s why: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses (Matthew 8:17).

The Bible says Jesus healed in order to fulfill the Scriptures. Every time He healed the multitudes, He proved once more that God’s will is healing for all.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses.

I believe He’s able and willing to heal me; therefore, right now I receive my healing by faith.

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7

God Is Willing To Heal

a

And this is the

confidence that

Though physical healing is a great need in the we have in him,

body of Christ today, the greatest hindrance is not knowing that God is willing to heal.

that, if we ask

any thing

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The marginal note in my according to his

Bible says the word destroyed literally means will, he heareth

“cut off.” So that Scripture could be rendered, us: and if we

“For a lack of knowledge people are cut off know that he

from the blessings of God.”

hear us,

If we don’t know God is willing to heal us, we whatsoever we

are cut off from His blessings of healing and ask, we know

health. You see, faith must have a foundation.

that we have the

In order to confidently receive what Jesus pur-petitions that we chased and provided for us, we must know it’s our Father’s desire to give it to us.

desired of him.

God wants us to come boldly to the throne of —1 John 5:14,15

grace to receive the healing we need. (Heb.

4:16.) That kind of boldness comes only from s t rong faith—a faith born of knowing the Father’s willingness to heal.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m confident that God is willing to heal me.

Therefore, I’m confident He hears me and gives me the petition of healing I desire.

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8

Healed in Order To Serve

And when Jesus

was come into

a

God lets us know in this Scripture what our Peter’s house, he

motive should be for wanting to be healed. We saw his wife’s

should want to get healed so God can use us in mother laid, and

service to Him, not just so we can go play tennis sick of a fever.

or golf.

And he touched

Now, there’s nothing wrong with tennis or golf, her hand, and

but our primary motive for desiring healing the fever left her:

ought to be because Jesus purchased our healing with His own precious blood and because we and she arose,

want to serve God with all our strength.

and ministered

When Samuel was sent to anoint David to be unto them.

king, God said something to Samuel that shows —Matthew 8:14,15

how important right heart motives are to Him: “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”

(1 Sam. 16:7).

We need to keep our motives right. Wrong motives will keep us out of God’s blessings. James 4:3 says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss [or with wrong motives].”

So keep your motives pure and your heart right, and then believe God for your healing. Faith inspired by right motives for healing and health will quickly move the hand of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

My main purpose is to minister to the Lord, putting my hand to the work He gives me to do. I thank God for healing me, so I’m effective and unhindered by pain, sickness, and disease.

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Healing—The Children’s Bread

a

I have been

young, and now

God doesn’t want His children begging for what am old; yet have

already belongs to them. To the woman of Canaan who begged Him to heal her daughter, I not seen the

Jesus said, “It is not meet to take the children’s righteous

bread, and to cast it to dogs” (Matt. 15:26).

forsaken, nor his

So according to Jesus, healing is the children’s seed begging

bread.

bread.

Healing belongs to us. It’s part of our re d e m p-

—Psalm 37:25

tion, our covenant, our spiritual inheritance. It belongs to us as blood-bought, new cre a t u re s in Christ.

When a believer begs for healing, God doesn’t have the slightest idea why. God says, “Child, healing belongs to you; it’s yours. When you accepted Jesus, He became your healer. You don’t have to beg.”

So get the revelation in your heart that as God’s child, healing is your “bread.” That’s 99 percent of the issue right there.

C o n fe s s i o n

As a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, I have a covenant right to receive healing and walk in divine health. I receive my inheritance of healing by faith. Healing belongs to me!

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No Longer Just a Promise

According as his

divine power hath

a

Under the old covenant, God kept telling Israel given unto us all

about the Messiah and Redeemer, showing things that pertain

them pictures of redemption in types and unto life and

shadows. Thousands of years passed, and godliness, through

people continued waiting for God’s redemptive the knowledge of

promises to be fulfilled.

him that hath

Then Jesus came to earth, fulfilling the will of called us to glory

God through His death, burial, and resurrec-and virtue.

tion. What was a promise is now a fulfilled fact.

N o w, God says, “I’ve done My part.” The —2 Peter 1:3

responsibility to act switched from Him to us.

It’s like this. If someone said, “I want to give you a book,” but sat there doing nothing, you’d wait to receive the book. But if the person said, “I want to give you this book,” and then placed the book beside you, it would become your responsibility to pick it up.

You see, in the spiritual realm God “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Healing certainly pertains to life and godliness. So if we want the healing God has already provided, we have to “pick it up.” We don’t wait for God to heal us—we reach out and take hold of what He’s already done. That isn’t forcing God’s hand— that’s saying, “Lord, You did it. I believe it. I take it.”

No longer do we look ahead to what God will do someday; we look back to what He did 2000 years ago. Healing is not a promise anymore — i t ’s a fact.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m redeemed and set free!

Sickness and disease are no longer part of me.

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1 1

Healing Is a Fact

a

He sent his

word, and

Divine healing belongs to us.

healed them,

We are n ’t waiting for God to heal us; God is and delivered

waiting for us to take the healing that’s alre a d y them from their

ours. God wanted us healed so much that He destructions.

d i d n ’t just promise to heal us; He sent His Son to purchase our healing with His broken body.

—Psalm 107:20

T h e re f o re, healing is not just a promise—it is a f a c t !

Years ago, I looked at healing as a promise.

Then one day I read, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). He didn’t say you may be healed or you will be healed. He said, “Ye were healed” —past tense. It isn’t what God is going to do; it’s what He’s already done. The day I found that Scripture in the Bible, it turned my life around.

Healing is a fact. As far as God is concerned, His part is done. Now He’s waiting for us to do our part—to reach out and take what is already ours.

C o n fe s s i o n

I want what the Word says is mine and nothing less.

I want God’s best, and that includes healing for my body.

By faith, I reach out and take the healing that is already mine.

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Healing Is God’s Idea

But my God shall

supply all your

a

God designed the plan of redemption long need according to

b e f o re we were ever born. Remember, He his riches in glory

called Jesus “the Lamb slain from the founda-by Christ Jesus.

tion of the world” (Rev. 13:8). In His plan of —Philippians 4:19

redemption, God provided us with certain benefits—salvation, the infilling of the Holy Ghost, and divine healing.

God gives us these benefits, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what He’s done through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. We’re not pushing God to heal us; He chose to do it. Healing was God’s idea. We aren’t forcing His hand; we’re accepting His Word. Our part is to say, “Lord, You said You’d supply every need, so I believe it and receive it.”

Make sure you fulfill your part. Don’t be like some people who look at God’s promise of healing and say, “Well, I don’t know if I can go along with that.” That’s like slapping Jesus in the face. In essence, those people are saying, “Jesus, the Word says You shed Your blood to purchase healing for me, but my religious doctrine says it isn’t true. So, I’ll take my doctrine instead.”

You can’t receive healing for your body with that kind of attitude. You must come to the place where it doesn’t matter what you’ve heard or been taught. To receive God’s benefits, you must agree with God’s Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I believe God for healing, I’m not forcing God’s hand.

Healing is God’s idea. He made healing available for me, and I receive it now in Jesus’ name.

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The Importance of Hearing the Word

a

And [Jesus] was

teaching in

Jesus’ teaching ministry was important. In fact, one of the

His teaching of the Word is what caused His synagogues on

healing ministry to flow and operate.

the sabbath.

Under Jesus’ ministry, most people had to hear Him teach the Wo rd to get healed. Luke —Luke 13:10

5:15 says, “Multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed.” That means most people w e re healed as a result of hearing the Wo rd and then receiving by their own faith.

For example, Jesus said to two blind men, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt. 9:29). To a centurion, He said, “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee” (Matt. 8:13). Jesus told a leper, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:19). And to the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:34).

Many Christians are not healed today because they don’t take time to listen to the Word of God. They want someone to get them healed so they can get on with life. “Hurry up and lay hands on me so I can get back to what I was doing,” some say. Yet, with that kind of attitude it’s no wonder these people don’t receive healing.

Take the time to hear the Word. Feed your spirit with God’s promises of healing. And as you’re faithful to hear and hear and hear the Word, your faith will rise up to make you whole.

C o n fe s s i o n

I position myself to hear God’s Word, and faith rises up strong within me. As I act on God’s Word, I receive all I need to walk in health.

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Hear With Your Spiritual Ears

Let these sayings

sink down into

a

There is a direct connection between hearing your ears: for the

the Word and being healed. Many people are Son of man shall

not being healed because they are either not be delivered into

hearing at all or they are not hearing enough.

the hands of men.

Someone may say, “Well, I heard the Word; I —Luke 9:44

know what it says; but it didn’t work for me.”

No. That’s not possible. The Wo rd a l w a y s works. Sometimes we fail to receive the benefits of the Word, but the Word never fails. The failure is on our part.

When Jesus told His disciples, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears,” He meant that you must hear the Word over and over and over with your spiritual ears—the ears of your inner man—until those truths finally get lodged down on the inside of you. Only then will you be able to receive the benefits of healing that are rightfully yours.

C o n fe s s i o n

I will hear and hear and hear the Word until it sinks down into the “ears” of my spirit. The Word always works, and it’s working in me now, producing healing and health in my body.

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Faith Comes by Hearing

a

Wherefore let

him that thinketh

Several years ago, after I’d been walking in health he standeth take

for a number of years, allergy symptoms once heed lest he fall.

again attacked my body. I started waking up in the middle of the night sneezing off and on for hours.

—1 Corinthians

So I began declaring, “Thank God, I stand on

10:12

the Word and believe I’m healed.” Nothing happened. Then I said, “I rebuke these symptoms in Jesus’ name. Leave my body now.” Nothing happened. I asked someone to agree with me for healing; still nothing happened.

I tried everything—pulled every lever, flipped every switch, pushed every button, pulled every knob—but got no better fast. Finally I prayed, ”Dear Lord, I know You don’t miss it. Show me where I’m missing it, and I’ll correct it.”

About that time, I was asked to minister on healing for a week in a Bible school. I hadn’t taught on healing for about a year and a half, and as a result, I hadn’t studied the subject either.

I quickly learned faith cometh by hearing—and goeth by not hearing. In fact, the enemy had used my faith deficit to strap some symptoms on me.

Yet preparing to teach, I spent an entire week studying healing from one to eight hours a day. All week I heard, confessed, and meditated on healing Scriptures.

Toward the end of the week, I asked my wife, Janet, “When did I stop sneezing?” I’d been healed so fast I didn’t even know I was healed. And I was so busy enjoying my healing I didn’t even notice when the symptoms left. I heard, and I was healed.

C o n fe s s i o n

I hear, believe, and confess God’s Word.

And it’s producing health in my physical body.

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16

Faith—The Product of Hearing the Word And Jesus went

about all Galilee,

a

Did you ever notice in Jesus’ ministry that teaching in their

teaching and preaching came before healing?

synagogues, and

You see, there’s a direct connection between preaching the

hearing and being healed.

gospel of the

In fact, the very best thing you can do if you kingdom, and

need healing in your body is to keep hearing healing all

and hearing and hearing the Word of God. Hear manner of sickness

it with your physical ears so many times that you finally hear it with your spiritual ears.

and all manner

of disease among

In Romans 10:10 Paul said, “For with the heart man believeth.” Real faith is of the heart—or the people.

inner man. You don’t believe with your head.

—Matthew 4:23

The Holy Spirit didn’t say through Paul, “With the head man believeth.” It’s when the Word of God lodges down in your spirit—when the Word is mixed with your “believer”—that faith emerges.

Faith is the product, or the fruit, of your knowledge of God’s Word having moved from your mind to your spirit. When you put the Word in your spirit, faith is always the result.

C o n fe s s i o n

With my heart, I choose to hear the truth of God’s Word.

It’s easy to believe God’s promises because I keep hearing and hearing the Word.

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The More You Hear, the More You Believe a

How then shall

they call on him

Years ago I traveled to India with five other in whom they

ministers to conduct a seminar for native ministers. Six of us taught on different subjects, but have not

I taught on healing for one hour every day for believed? and

three and a half weeks. Mostly, God dealt with how shall they

me to teach on the Atonement that Jesus pur-believe in him of chased for us on the Cross.

whom they have

On the first day different ministers asked me to not heard? and

pray for their healing, but the Spirit of God how shall they

wouldn’t allow me to. I told them, “Not yet; we’ll do it later.” Each day another minister hear without a

would ask for prayer, and I’d say the same preacher?

thing. I knew if I prayed for their healing pre-

—Romans 10:14

maturely, they wouldn’t receive. They didn’t know enough of the Word to have strong faith because they’d only begun to hear about healing.

On the last day the Lord spoke to my spirit, “It’s time to pray, but don’t you pray or lay hands on them. They are ministers; let them pray for each other.” I obeyed the Lord, and afterward I asked how many received manifestations of healing. Hands went up all over.

After hearing the Word day after day, these ministers could hardly wait for me to finish teaching so they could pray. Their faith had grown strong hearing the Word; they were ready to receive.

The same will happen to you as you hear and hear the Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

I take time to hear God’s Word on healing and faith rises in me, producing healing from head to toe.

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Activate Jesus’ Healing Power

With Your Faith

…[Jesus] stood in

the plain, and the

company of his

a

During Jesus’ ministry, people who wanted disciples, and a

their lives changed came to hear Him and be great multitude of

healed. Verse 19 reveals what happened when they came: “For there went virtue out of him, people out of all

and healed them all.” You see, the virtue, or Judaea and

power, of God flowed out of Jesus to heal the Jerusalem, and

multitude when the people operated in faith.

from the sea coast

And when did they operate in faith? After they of Tyre and Sidon,

heard the Word.

which came to

Once the people heard, their faith rose up hear him, and to

and released the healing power in Jesus. But the power didn’t flow out of Him until after be healed of their

the people heard His teaching and drew on it diseases; and they

by faith.

that were vexed

If you need healing in your body, you can draw with unclean

on Jesus’ miracle-working power with your spirits: and they

faith. However, the first step is to hear what the were healed. And

Word of God says. You must hear it and hear it the whole

with your physical ears until you can hear it multitude sought

with your spiritual ears. As the healing virtue flowed out of Jesus then, it still flows out of Him to touch him: for

today—activated by faith.

there went virtue

out of him, and

C o n fe s s i o n

healed them all.

The same virtue that flowed out of Jesus to —Luke 6:17-19

heal the multitude heals me now as I hear the Word and draw on His power.

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19

Keep Teaching Others How To Be Healed a

And [Jesus]

could there do

Jesus had traveled to His own hometown, and the power of God was present to heal. Jesus no mighty work,

was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with save that he laid

power, but still only a few in Nazareth received his hands upon

their healing. Most of them wouldn’t receive a few sick folk,

because their unbelief was so strong. So what and healed

was Jesus’ solution to that situation? “He went them. And he

round about the villages, teaching” (v. 6).

marvelled

When Jesus couldn’t get anything else to because of

happen, He taught. Jesus did that all through their unbelief.

His ministry. When He encountered the hard places, He’d just lean back and teach. When And he went

people weren’t receiving their healing, when round about

He couldn’t do any mighty works, when no gifts the villages,

of the Spirit were operating and no one was teaching.

receiving the anointing, Jesus would teach and teach and teach some more.

—Mark 6:5,6

Jesus is our example. When people won’t receive, just keep teaching. That was a major part of Jesus’ ministry because when He taught people they were healed. The truth is, the only way to cure unbelief is to keep teaching the Wo rd. Someone will take hold of it because there ’s a connection between hearing and being healed.

C o n fe s s i o n

As the Word becomes life and healing in me, I can teach others. The healing power of the Word works in all who hear.

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20

Keep Hearing the Word

My soul, wait thou

only upon God; for

a

Janet and I ministered in a Sunday morning my expectation is

c h u rch service, where we told the people, from him.

“Come back tonight expecting God to do some-

—Psalm 62:5

thing. Meditate on the Word. If you need something from God, find out what the Word says about it. If you need healing, find healing Scriptures and meditate on them. Dwell on them. Say them out loud to yourself all afternoon, and then come back tonight expecting.”

People came up to us after the service and said, “Just give us a couple of Scriptures, and we’ll go home and meditate on them.” Others said, “We’re going home to pray and listen to the Word all afternoon. We’ll come back tonight expecting.”

The people did exactly what they said they would do. They went home that afternoon and did their spiritual homework. They schooled themselves in faith—and what a difference it made.

I’m telling you, that night we had church! People were filled with the Holy Spirit and many others healed—all because they took the time to hear the Word.

When you set yourself to continually hear the Word, you build up your faith to be healed, or to be set free from fear, or whatever you need from God’s Word. Whatever God promises in His Word will manifest in your life—as long as you keep hearing the Word and building your faith for it.

C o n fe s s i o n

The Word of God is stronger than any sickness or disease.

As I hear God’s Word, I expect its power to work in my body, bringing about the healing I desire.

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Sow the Word—Reap Healing

a

Be not deceived;

God is not

Whatever seed you plant, you will reap that mocked: for

kind of harvest. God’s entire kingdom works on this principle. Whatever you sow in your heart whatsoever a

is what you will reap in your life. So if you sow man soweth,

God’s Word on healing, you will reap healing.

that shall he

Many people are trying to reap a harvest of also reap.

healing, yet they’ve never sown a seed. But you —Galatians 6:7

see, hearing and healing go hand in hand because “faith cometh by hearing.” Whatever we plant on the inside, we will see on the outside. What we are, what we have, and what we look like on the outside is a result of what we have— or haven’t—put on the inside.

I’ve noticed whenever symptoms try to attack my body, it’s usually when I haven’t been putting enough of the Word down on the inside for it to manifest on the outside. So I go back and study the Word.

We made a tape on healing several years ago and received reports from people all over the country who played that tape over and over and were healed. So Janet decided to try it. We were on a plane heading for the Philippines when symptoms attacked her. Janet listened to it over and over again for about four hours. By the time we got to Manila, every symptom was gone. The Word drove symptoms out of her body. That’s the connection between hearing and healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

Whatever I sow in my life, I reap. So I plant God’s Word and reap life, healing, joy, protection, guidance, peace, and safety.

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First Hearing, Then Believing

For whosoever

shall call upon the

a

Hearing the Word produces belief. You can’t name of the Lord

call on God unless you believe, and you can’t shall be saved.

believe unless you hear. That’s why hearing How then shall

and healing go hand in hand. Once you hear, they call on him in

you can believe; and once you believe, you can whom they have

be healed.

not believed? and

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by how shall they

hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

believe in him of

Hearing God’s Word causes faith to rise up on whom they have

the inside. When you release that faith, you get results. That’s why Mark 9:23 says, “All things not heard? and

are possible to him that believeth.”

how shall they

God made it easy for you. He said simply to hear hear without a

and be healed. So if you’re having tro u b l e preacher?

believing God for your healing, don’t try to work —Romans

it up. Go back to the Wo rd and “hear” what He

10:13,14

said. Then just keep on hearing until faith rises up on the inside. Healing will be the re s u l t !

C o n fe s s i o n

As I hear and hear the Word of God,

faith rises up in me to drive every symptom out of my body, and produces a healing and a cure throughout my entire body.

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2 3

Call on the Lord in Faith

a

For whosoever

shall call upon

The word saved or salvation is actually defined the name of the

as the sum total of all the blessings bestowed on man by God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Lord shall

That means salvation also includes healing.

be saved.

Knowing that, let’s word this verse another —Romans 10:13

way: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall also be healed.”

However, to receive the blessing of healing, we must believe. Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” If we don’t believe, either we won’t call on God at all, or we won’t call on Him in faith.

Many have endeavored to call on God without actually believing. There was a time I did a lot of calling, but not much believing; and therefore, I didn’t get any answers. I prayed for two years without seeing results and almost threw away my sign that said, “Prayer Changes Things”.

Finally I read Matthew 21:22: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in p r a y e r, b e l i e v i n g , ye shall receive.” I had missed that part about believing.

Notice also that Jesus said, “All things” you ask in prayer. Well, healing is part of “all things”—and therefore, possible to him who believes.

But you must believe to tap in to God’s healing power. You can’t call on Him unless you believe, and you can’t believe unless you hear. That’s why hearing and healing go hand in hand.

C o n fe s s i o n

All things are possible to me because I believe.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be healed.

I hear, I call, I believe—and I am healed.

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The Hearing of Faith

This only would

I learn of you,

a

I once heard a minister say that 99 percent of Received ye the

the problems we have living by faith or receiv-Spirit by the works ing from God result from a lack of knowledge.

of the law, or

If we’re having trouble receiving from God, we by the hearing

need to hear more of God’s Word and get more of faith?

knowledge.

—Galatians 3:2

Paul asked, “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Well, we didn’t receive the Spirit because of any works of the Law, so we know it’s by the hearing of faith. When we hear the Word, it builds our faith to receive.

Now look at Galatians 3:5: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Again, the hearing of faith produces miracles. Or in other words, we hear and then God works the miracles after we hear.

Why do we have to hear first? We do because when we hear faith rises up in our heart, and faith is the spiritual force that releases God’s power.

C o n fe s s i o n

Receiving from God is easy. I hear and hear and hear the Word until I believe it in my heart. Then I speak the Word from my believing spirit and release power to accomplish healing in my body.

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Let Jesus Do a Mighty Work in You

a

[Jesus]…came

into his own

When Jesus was in His own country the people country; and his

in the synagogue listened to Him, but they re a l l y d i d n ’t hear Him. They murm u red, “Where does disciples follow

Jesus get these things? What wisdom is this?”

him. And when

The people were offended, so we know they the sabbath day

d i d n ’t really hear Him nor did they allow His was come, he

w o rds to produce faith. They were listening, but in reality they were n ’t hearing.

began to teach in

Verse 5 says, [Jesus] “could there do no mighty the synagogue:

work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick and many

folk, and healed them.” Think about it. Jesus of hearing him were

N a z a reth—God manifested in the flesh, the One anointed with the Holy Ghost and power without astonished,

l i m i t s — could not do any mighty works.

saying, From

The Bible doesn’t say Jesus w o u l d n ’t—it says He whence hath this

c o u l d n ’t . I like the way Brother Kenneth Hagin man these things?

translated that phrase; he said Jesus laid his and what

hands “upon a few people with minor ailments. ”

wisdom is this

Jesus went in equipped with signs, wonders, and miracles, but only a few people with a cold which is given

or the flu were healed. Thank God for the ones unto him, that

who were, but Jesus went to His own home-even such mighty town to accomplish a whole lot more.

works are

Make sure you really hear God’s Word and build your faith to receive so Jesus can do a wrought by his

mighty work for you.

hands? …And

they were

C o n fe s s i o n

offended at him.

God’s power is present to heal me

—Mark 6:1-3

right now as I hear and believe the Word.

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Time To Hear Even More

And he could there

do no mighty

a

Jesus had been teaching and preaching all over work, save that he

the region where He grew up. But when He laid his hands

came to the part of His message proclaiming upon a few sick

God as healer, no one got it. So what did Jesus folk, and healed

do? He went back to traveling the region, teach-them. And he ing the Word even more.

marvelled because

That was always the progression of Jesus’ min-of their unbelief.

istry: teaching, preaching, and healing. If the And he went round

people weren’t getting healed, Jesus knew their faith wasn’t taking hold of the truths he taught.

about the villages,

Simply—God’s Word had not yet registered on teaching.

their hearts. So Jesus would back up and start —Mark 6:5,6

teaching again, feeding them more Word to build their faith.

Notice that Jesus didn’t give up on the people.

He didn’t say, “I throw in the towel. I’m done with you folks. That’s it— I’m out of here. I’m going where people are hungry.”

Jesus understood when the truths He taught hadn’t sufficiently registered in people. But He also knew the minute the truth did register, it would produce healing and wholeness.

If you’ve endeavored to believe for healing but nothing seems to be happening, maybe the truth of healing has not sufficiently registered to your heart. So back up and hear more of God’s Word. And keep hearing until you get so full on the inside that healing shows up on the outside.

C o n fe s s i o n

I am a hearer of God’s Word. God’s truth of healing registers to my heart more and more each day until healing shows up on my body.

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Take a Daily Dose of God’s Word

a

For [God’s

words] are life

One day Janet and I were talking to a man badly unto those that

in need of healing, and we advised him: “God’s Word is medicine to all your flesh. Feed on it find them, and

daily! If you take God’s Word as faithfully as you health to all

take other medicines, we guarantee there’s no their flesh.

disease that can remain in your body.”

—Proverbs 4:22

The man replied, “Oh, I’ve been studying the Bible every day doing a thorough study on the book of Revelation.”

But the man needed to understand that every seed produces after its own kind. In other words, he needed healing in his body, so the best thing for him to study was healing.

Thank God for the book of Revelation—it will get you ready for heaven.

But if you’re sick, right now you need to know how to live in victory over sickness on this earth. So if you need healing in your body, feed on healing Scriptures. What you feed on is what you’ll have faith for.

And realize even if you fed on healing Scriptures last week, last month, or last year, that Word gave you faith then. However, that doesn’t mean you will have faith for your answer today.

You see, it isn’t what you have heard; it’s what you are hearing that counts. Even if you heard healing taught yesterday, a lot of unbelief may have been pumped into your ears since then.

So what are you listening to these days? The answer makes all the difference in your healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I need healing, I go to God’s Word and build healing Scriptures into my spirit. My body is healed as God’s Word becomes life to me.

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Apply Your Heart to the Word

Bow down thine

ear, and hear the

a

Years ago I taught for several days in a camp-words of the wise, meeting and noticed a young woman coming to and apply thine

every service using crutches. She wasn’t able to heart unto my

walk without them.

knowledge.

One afternoon I taught the congregation to feed on healing Scriptures when they needed healing.

—Proverbs 22:17

That evening another evangelist preached and called the sick forw a rd for prayer. This woman was the first one to the front.

The minister laid hands on her, and the woman was instantly healed.

Later she testified, “I suffered with multiple sclerosis and couldn’t even walk without crutches. Doctors said my condition would only get worse, but I’d been coming regularly to this church endeavoring to believe God for my healing.

“This afternoon I heard the importance of feeding my faith with healing Scriptures. Until then, I’d been doing all I knew to do, but I hadn’t satu-rated myself with God’s Word on healing.

“So I opened my Bible and studied healing Scriptures for hours this afternoon. Suddenly, my heart got so full of Scriptures that I’d been meditating on that faith welled up in me. I came to church tonight and wrote inside my Bible with today’s date, ‘Healed by the power of God!’ I just knew things would change tonight.”

Taking hold of a miracle doesn’t necessarily work this quickly for every o n e , but this woman got so full of the Wo rd it produced unstoppable faith in her.

Many times we wait for God to drop faith on us. But faith only comes by hearing God’s Word and applying your heart to it.

C o n fe s s i o n

As I hear and hear the Word, faith wells up in me producing healing throughout my body.

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Set Your Faith Limits High

a

And Jesus saith

unto them,

Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto Believe ye that I

you.” I always thought He meant, “If you believe, you’ll receive”—and that’s true. But am able to do

there’s more to what Jesus meant here than this? They said

that. He is saying, according to your faith—or unto him, Yea,

according to what you believe—be it unto you.

Lord. Then

For instance, in Matthew 8:5-10, when the cen-touched he their turion came to Jesus on behalf of his servant, eyes, saying,

Jesus said, “I’ll come and heal him.”

According to

But the centurion replied, “I’m not worthy that your faith be it

You should come under my roof. Just speak the unto you. And

word only, and my servant will be healed.”

their eyes were

What happened? Jesus spoke “and his servant opened.

was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matt. 8:13).

In Mark 5, Jairus said to Jesus about his little —Matthew

girl near death, “If You’ll just come and lay Your

9:28-30

hand upon her, she’ll be healed and live.” When He arrived at the home, she’d already died. But Jesus threw out all the unbelief, took the child by the hand, and raised her from the dead. (vv. 22-24,35-42.)

Notice in each case, it wasn’t just the fact the people believed that brought their miracles—it was what they believed. They set their own limits, and Jesus met them at their limits. He’ll do the same for you!

C o n fe s s i o n

I set my faith to receive all Jesus purchased for me. Healing is one of the benefits provided for me, and I believe I receive it now.

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He Sent His Word To Heal You

He sent his word,

and healed them,

a

How did God send His Word to heal us? He gave and delivered

us sixty-six books of His words—the Bible. As them from their

we hear the Word, it starts working inside us to destructions.

make us completely healed and whole.

—Psalm 107:20

When you go all through the Gospels, in most cases you‘ll find that hearing came before healing. And if it worked that way under Jesus’

ministry, it still works that way today.

When you need healing, the best thing you can do is to hear and hear and hear and hear. Keep God’s Word going into your ears every way possible.

Keep hearing what God says about your healing.

Many people want to go to one particular meeting and miraculously receive healing; they aren’t interested in hearing. Sometimes God in His mercy does manifest Himself, and people receive their healing. But most of the time, they have to take time to hear before they are healed.

You see, walking by faith doesn’t come from leaving your Bible on the shelf until it’s time to dust it off and carry it to church. Faith comes as you get into God’s Word. It builds in your spirit as you hear it from the preacher, from teaching tapes and CDs, and especially from out of your own mouth.

God sent His Word, and it heals you. When does it heal you? When you take the time to hear it.

C o n fe s s i o n

God sent His Word to heal me, and His Word is life and medicine to all my flesh. I hear His Word and obey it, and I’m delivered from sickness and disease.

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Jesus Took Our Place

a

But Christ being

come an high

After Adam’s fall, man inherited a load he priest of good

couldn’t carry—a load of death, sin, and sickness. The old covenant provided for man’s sins things to come, by

to be covered for a year at a time through the a greater and

shedding of the blood of bulls and goats. Man more perfect

could also experience healing in his body tabernacle, not

through animal sacrifices. But those sacrifices were only temporary and could only cover made with hands,

sins—not wash sins away.

that is to say, not

Then Jesus Christ came and took the place for of this building;

our punishment, dying on the Cross as our sub-neither by the stitute. Most people have no problem believing blood of goats

Jesus bore our sins on the Cross so we could stand before God forgiven.

and calves, but by

But unfort u n a t e l y, many Christians believe his own blood he

Jesus left us with our sicknesses, intending to entered in once

decide on an individual basis who should be into the holy

healed. These folks believe salvation belongs to place, having

everyone, but they think a person can never know who—or if—God will heal.

obtained eternal

Well, that may be what some believe, but that’s redemption for us.

not what the Bible says. Isaiah 53:5 says Jesus —Hebrews 9:11,12

“was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus already took sickness. We have as much right to be healed as we do to be saved.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I call on Jesus to be my Savior, He also becomes my Healer.

By faith I receive the healing that Jesus bought and paid for.

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Two Sides of the Atonement

Bless the Lord, O

my soul: and all

a

This Scripture tells us, “Forget not all his bene-that is within me, fits.” What are God’s benefits? He forgives all bless his holy

our iniquities and heals all our diseases. Now, name. Bless the

verse 3 lists these two benefits in the same Lord, O my soul,

breath, so to speak, meaning that Jesus pro-and forget not all vided both when He died on the Cross and was his benefits: who

raised from the dead.

forgiveth all thine

Forgiveness of sins and healing go hand in iniquities; who

hand: Jesus shed His blood for the remission of healeth all

sins, and His body was broken for us so we could enjoy physical healing and health. He thy diseases.

provided both benefits at once, and there’s no —Psalm 103:1-3

place in the Bible that tells us to separate these two sides of the Atonement. Healing belongs to us as much as salvation does.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I received Jesus as Savior, healing came in my “benefits package” as well. I don’t have to be sick.

My healer bore my sicknesses and pains so I wouldn’t have to bear them. By His stripes, I am healed.

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Healing—Not Just a Divine Afterthought a

For ye are

bought with a

Did you notice God talks about healing before price: therefore

He talks about salvation? The Scripture says, glorify God in

“Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit.”

Healing was not a divine afterthought. It was your body, and

instituted before the new birth.

in your spirit,

Look at what Isaiah 53:4-5 says:

which are God’s.

S u rely he hath borne our griefs [or sick-

—1 Corinthians

nesses], and carried our sorrows [or pains]:

6:20

yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Healing is revealed in verse 4 and salvation in verse 5. Does that mean healing is more important? No, but God knew the body of Christ would have more trouble believing for healing; perhaps that’s why He put it first.

Jesus bore stripes on His back before He hung on the Cross, which means He paid the price for our physical health before He paid the price for our new birth. Healing isn’t more important, but God wants us to know it’s equally as important as salvation. God wants us to have both salvation and healing, and we receive both the same way—by faith.

So study what the Bible says about the Atonement of Jesus, and you’ll come to a firm persuasion—an unshakable confidence—that you are as healed as you are saved.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus paid the price so I could be saved and healed.

Therefore, I live free of sickness. I’m healed, I’m well, I’m whole.

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How Many Sick People

Does God Want To Heal?

Go ye into all the

world, and preach

the gospel to every

a

How many sick people is Jesus talking about in creature. And these

verse 18? He’s talking about all sick people.

signs shall follow

God wants all healed! If God didn’t want every sick person healed, Jesus wouldn’t have told us them that believe;

to lay hands on them so He could heal them.

in my name shall

And by virtue of the fact this is the last thing Jesus they cast out devils;

s h a red with His disciples while on earth, we they shall speak

know how important it is. It’s like this. Suppose with new tongues;

you were leaving for a long period of time, and they shall take up

you wanted your close friends to re m e m b e r serpents; and if they

something important. Wo u l d n ’t you make sure drink any deadly

the last thing you said to them was the message you really wanted them to remember?

thing, it shall not

hurt them; they

T h a t ’s just what Jesus did in this Gre a t Commission. Jesus tells us God wants every shall lay hands on

person saved, healed, and delivered. God the sick, and they

doesn’t want anyone left out, but He won’t force shall recover.

His blessings on anyone either. God is a gentle-

—Mark 16:15,17,18

man, and He only leads as we yield to Him.

Yet God offers mankind all that salvation encompasses and says, “Whosoever will, let him come.” He wants every creature to hear the Gospel—and He wants every creature healed.

C o n fe s s i o n

Knowing my Father wants me well, I believe I receive healing now in Jesus’ name. And when I lay hands on the sick, they surely recover.

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Our Divine Commission

a

Go ye into all the

world, and

It’s significant that in this passage of Scripture Jesus didn’t say, “When you run across sick preach the gospel

people, fast and pray to see if they are among to every creature.

the chosen few God will heal.” Nor did He say, He that believeth

“Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover if and is baptized

it’s My will.” No. Jesus said, “Go find sick shall be saved;

people and preach the Gospel to them; then lay but he that

hands on them, and they’ll recover.” This is one of the signs He said would follow all believers.

believeth not

We should be interested in learning how to shall be damned.

operate in faith so we can take hold of our own And these signs

healing. And, if we’re going to be assets to the shall follow them

kingdom of God, we should also be interested that believe; in

in learning how to minister healing to sick my name...they

people. God has been trying to get that across to shall lay hands

the Church for years.

on the sick, and

Another thing I want to point out is that Mark 16

they shall recover.

d o e s n ’t say these signs shall only follow apostles and prophets. No, it clearly states, “These signs —Mark 16:15-18

shall follow them that believe. ” Every Christian has a divine commission to preach the Gospel, and the supernatural signs follow all those who believe.

So tell sick people God wants to heal them. Lay hands on them, and watch healing come to pass in their lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

I gladly tell others the good news that Jesus delivered them from sin and sickness. I lay hands on the sick and watch them recover.

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Making Your Point of Contact

Now when the sun

was setting, all

a

Jesus was the will of God in action. He constantly they that had any

showed people that God wanted them healed.

sick with divers

God wants you healed, and once that truth is diseases brought

lodged in your heart, your next step is to make them unto him;

a point of contact. This “point of contact” re f e r s and [Jesus] laid his

to the moment you begin to release your faith hands on every

for your healing. After finding out God’s will, one of them, and

you make your petition: “Thank God, I believe I receive my healing. I’m healed by the stripes healed them.

of Jesus.”

—Luke 4:40

A point of contact is made in two ways. One way is through prayer, according to Mark 11:24: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Another way is through the laying on of hands: “In my name...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall re c o v e r ”

(Mark 16:17,18).

When a person makes his point of contact, at that moment he begins to believe he receives his healing. He may not feel or see it, but he still believes he has received his answer. You may hear him say, “I believe I re c e i v e d when I prayed” or “I believe I received when hands were laid on me.”

“Do you feel any different?” someone might ask.

The person in faith will answer, “No, but that doesn’t make any difference because I believe I’ve received!” That’s the confession of faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe I receive healing through faith. Another way I receive healing is through the laying on of hands.

Either way, my healing begins at my point of contact.

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How To Receive From God

a

Therefore I say

unto you, What

How can we receive all that Jesus bought and paid things soever ye

for through His death, burial, and re s u rrection?

desire, when ye

Well, we know faith operates on God’s known will. So first we must look into the Word, where pray, believe that

we find it’s God’s perfect will for every person to ye receive them,

be healed. Next, we make a point of contact, and ye shall

which occurs when we believe we receive.

have them.

Imagine a reservoir full of water held back by a —Mark 11:24

dam and a dry valley below. The two represent a “greater” and a “lesser.” And if we open the spillgate so contact is made between the two, the greater water would flood into the lesser dry valley.

In the same way, our point of contact can be likened to “opening the spillgate.” The moment we release our faith—the point of contact—the “greater” power in Jesus Christ begins to flow into our “lesser” bodies, whether we feel it or not. God’s healing power begins to work in our bodies the very moment we believe.

Anyone can believe when he sees or feels something. But as Christians, we’re supposed to believe we receive our healing before we see or feel it because we believe the Word.

What else are we supposed to do? We ’ re to s a y what we believe: “I believe I’m healed by Jesus’ stripes.” Do we feel any diff e rent? Not always, but t h a t ’s all right. Our feelings won’t change God’s Wo rd, but God’s Wo rd will definitely change what we see and feel if we continue in faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

By faith I open the spillgate of God’s goodness and healing power flows into me as I believe I receive.

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The Laying on of Hands

Therefore leaving

the principles of the

a

This Scripture outlines the basic, fundamental doctrine of Christ,

principles of the doctrines of Christ. Have they let us go on unto

passed away? Let’s look: “Not laying again the perfection; not

foundation of repentance.” Has re p e n t a n c e laying again the

passed away? No, repentance is still a founda-foundation of tional principle of the doctrine of Christ.

repentance from

What about “faith toward God”? Is that fin-dead works, and of ished? It can’t be, because we are saved by faith toward God,

grace through faith. (Eph. 2:8.) If faith has passed away, we’re all in trouble.

of the doctrine of

What about the doctrine of baptisms or the doc-baptisms, and of trine of the re s u rrection of the dead? Are bap-laying on of hands, tisms going to continue? Are the dead going to be and of resurrection

re s u rrected? Yes! What about eternal judgment?

of the dead, and of

Has that passed away? No, it’s still in the works.

eternal judgment.

Only one foundational principle remains, and if all the others haven’t passed away, then this —Hebrews 6:1,2

one hasn’t either. Right in the middle of those verses it says, “...not laying again the foundation...of laying on of hands.”

This is one of the fundamental principles of the doctrines of Christ, and it hasn’t passed away. It’s still in effect today.

In fact, the Great Commission in Mark 16:18 says, “They [believers] shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” So, if laying on of hands is for today, then healing is still for today as well. It’s just that simple.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s foundational principles haven’t changed. Believers still lay hands on the sick and they still recover. And He’s still the God who heals me.

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What Was Accomplished on the Cross?

a

[Jesus] was

delivered for our

Millions of people around the world believe offences, and

Jesus died on the Cross, but not every o n e believes He was raised from the dead. And very was raised

few people, even Christians, know what He actu-again for our ally accomplished when He went to the Cross.

justification.

Why did Jesus shed His blood? Was it just for —Romans 4:25

forgiveness of sins alone or for even more than that? Jesus was delivered unto death for the payment of our sins. Then He was raised again for our justification so we could live in right standing with God.

When Jesus shed His blood, it was for the forgiveness of our sins. His resurrection from the dead made the new birth available to us. We can now receive Jesus as our Savior and become brand-new creatures on the inside. (2 Cor. 5:17.) And our newly re-created spirits are infused with the nature of God.

Our sins are not just forgiven but remitted—totally removed as though they’d never happened. God not only delivers us from our sins, but He also delivers us from the power sin once held over us.

You see, it wouldn’t have been enough just to forgive our sins—our nature would still be the same, and we’d still continue to sin. God sent Jesus to deliver us from the power of sin and all its effects, including sickness. Jesus died to pay for our sins, and He was raised from the dead to deliver us from sin and sickness.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a new creature in Christ. The old sin nature has been removed and holds no more power over me. Now I live free from sin and sickness.

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Portraits of Our Redemption

And all things are of

God, who hath

a

God redeemed the world to Himself thro u g h reconciled us to

Jesus’ work on the Cross. That’s why John himself by Jesus

the Baptist re f e rred to Jesus as “the Lamb of Christ, and hath

God, which taketh away the sin of the world”

given to us the

(John 1:29).

ministry of

Jesus’ work on the Cross is available to anyone and everyone who believes. There f o re, we reconciliation; to wit,

need to learn what Jesus accomplished on that that God was in

Cross so we can walk in what belongs to us. If Christ, reconciling

physical healing was a part of what Jesus the world unto

accomplished, then we can expect divine healing to be our spiritual inheritance.

himself, not imputing

When we look in the Gospels, we discover what their trespasses unto

literally happened to Jesus on His way to the them; and hath

C ross: He was beaten. His back was laid open committed unto us

with a whip. He was spat upon, and a crown of the word of

t h o rns was placed on His head. Finally, He was nailed to the Cross, where He hung until He died.

reconciliation.

Yet the Gospels don’t really tell us what Jesus —2 Corinthians

purchased for us on the Cross. But all through

5:18,19

the Old Testament God provided portraits of our redemption—“word pictures” of what Jesus did for us when He went to the Cross.

For the next several days, let’s study these vivid pictures of the Cross to gain a greater revelation of our redemption.

C o n fe s s i o n

To walk in the fullness of God’s blessings, I must know what Jesus did for me on the Cross. My faith grows stronger as I receive a greater revelation of redemption.

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Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

a

Speak ye unto all

the congregation

Exodus 12 provides one of God’s portraits of of Israel, saying,

redemption, a picture of what Jesus did for us in His death, burial, and resurrection.

In the tenth day

In the Old Testament, Egypt is a type of sin or of this month

bondage—the kingdom we lived in before we they shall take to

were born again. Pharaoh is a type of Satan.

them every man

Israel, on the other hand, is a type of the a lamb,

Church. God’s man, Moses, is a picture of Jesus arriving on the scene with signs, wonders, and according to the

miracles to deliver God’s people. Israel’s deliv-house of their erance out of Egyptian bondage into freedom is fathers, a lamb

a type of the new birth.

for an house: and

F i n a l l y, the miracle that produced Israel’s if the household

freedom centered around a lamb—what the Bible calls a Passover lamb. What the Passover be too little for

lamb in the Old Testament accomplished for the lamb, let him

the children of Israel through its death is a and his

clear picture of what Jesus accomplished for us neighbour next

on the Cross.

T h a t ’s why John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb unto his house

of God. (John 1:29.) And in Revelation 13:8, Jesus take it according

was called “the Lamb slain from the foundation of to the number of

the world.” Jesus is our Passover Lamb, whose the souls; every

death provided a way for those who believe in Him to be saved, delivered, and made whole.

man according to

his eating shall

C o n fe s s i o n

make your count

Jesus is my Passover Lamb who opened

for the lamb.

the way for me to enter God’s family

—Exodus 12:3,4

and enjoy my inheritance.

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Christ, Our Passover

In the tenth day of

this month they

a

In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Jesus Christ is called our shall take to them

Passover: “For even Christ our passover is sac-every man a lamb, rificed for us.” Passover was instituted back in according to the

the Old Testament. And if we can find out what house of their

Passover did for people back then, we can find fathers, a lamb

out what Jesus, our Passover, did for us in the for an house.

New Testament.

...and the whole

The children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt assembly of the

for hundreds of years. God told them, “Take a congregation of

lamb—one per family. Kill the lamb and put the blood on the doorpost. Roast the lamb, eat the Israel shall kill it

flesh, and then get out of Egypt.”

in the evening.

So the people obeyed the Lord’s instructions.

And they shall

The lamb was slain and the blood applied. And take of the blood,

once the atonement was made, the people went and strike it on

free—not only spiritually but also physically.

the two side posts

The Passover lamb is a picture of the new birt h .

and on the upper

You see, when Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain door post of the

on the Cross, the way was opened for us to live houses, wherein

f ree from Satan’s dominion. Now the moment they shall eat it.

we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are redeemed, saved, and set free from bondage.

—Exodus 12:3,6,7

C o n fe s s i o n

Because of Jesus, the Lamb of God, I’m free from the devil’s dominion. I’ve been removed from the kingdom of darkness and placed in the kingdom of light.

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Behold the Lamb of God

a

The next day

John seeth Jesus

When God gave the instructions for the coming unto

Passover, He gave very specific instructions him, and saith,

about the lamb:

Behold the Lamb

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, of God, which

or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until taketh away the

the fourteenth day of the same month: and the sin of the world.

whole assembly of the congregation of Israel —John 1:29

shall kill it in the evening. (Ex. 12:5,6).

Jesus fit every one of these qualifications. He was a Lamb without blemish for He’d never sinned. He was the firstborn in his family, “a male of the first year.” There was even a particular time this Lamb had to die: “in the evening.” The very hour Jesus died on the Cross was the time when Passover lambs were sacrificed.

Who killed the Passover lamb? “The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.” In Acts 2:23, Peter preached to the Jewish multitude about who was responsible for Jesus’ death: “Him, being delivered by the determi-nate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

Jesus was condemned by the Romans and crucified by Israel, but He laid His life down willingly for you and me. He took our sin and our sickness upon Himself. He knew it was the only way you and I could be delivered from the bondage of sin and sickness.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus was the Lamb slain to take away the sin of the whole world.

Yet, Jesus died for me. Through Him I receive all the benefits salvation includes. I’m saved, healed, and delivered!

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Covered by the Blood

…They shall take

of the blood, and

a

God instructed His people to apply the blood of strike it on the two

the lamb to the side posts and upper doorposts of side posts and on

their houses. Thus, they would make a type of the the upper door

C ross and be covered by the blood of the Passover post of the

lamb that had been slain for their deliverance.

houses….

God was giving His people a portrait of redemp-

—Exodus 12:7

tion, pointing ahead to the time when Jesus would come and shed His blood at Calvary. God told them, “The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Ex. 12:13).

That night, death struck the firstborn of every household in Egypt where the blood was not applied. Where the blood was applied, death passed over. Judgment didn’t fall on those residing within; instead, they went free. In the same way, when Jesus’ blood is applied to us as we make Him our Lord and Savior, final judgment passes over us, and we step into eternal glory.

We know from Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there’s no remission of sins. The blood of the lamb was the sacrifice that allowed the Israelites to walk out of Egypt’s bondage. And it’s the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that enables us to walk free of every demonic bondage—including the bondage of sickness and disease.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ve applied the blood of the Lamb of God to my life.

Therefore, I’m free from every yoke of bondage, including sickness.

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Redeemed—Spirit, Soul, and Body

a

And they shall

eat the flesh in

God gave His people specific instructions about how to eat the Passover lamb. He said, “Put your that night, roast

belts on, put shoes on, and be ready to go.” (v. 11.) with fire, and

I t ’s significant that God didn’t say, “And thus shall unleavened

ye eat it, with your loins girded and your wheel-chairs, stretchers, crutches, and pills all ready to bread; and with

go. With all your aches and pains go fort h . ”

bitter herbs they

Among the three million Israelites God was shall eat it. And

talking to, there had to be plenty who were too thus shall ye eat

sick or old to travel. But the Lord told them all it; with your

to eat and go!

loins girded,

You see, God wasn’t satisfied with a partial redemption. He wanted His people to go out— your shoes on

and go out well. He wanted them set free from your feet, and

Egyptian bondage, and set free from the your staff in your

bondage of sickness.

hand; and ye

What happened when the Israelites applied the blood of the lamb? It spared them from judg-shall eat it in ment and set them free from bondage. What haste: it is the

happened when the Israelites ate the lamb’s Lord’s passover.

flesh? They went out healthy.

T h a t ’s why the Passover lamb is a portrait of our —Exodus 12:8,11

full redemption in Christ.

When Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, he fell spirit, soul, and body.

When God redeemed man, He redeemed him spirit, soul, and body. Jesus died to make us completely whole.

C o n fe s s i o n

Now I partake of the Lamb of God and go forth in newness of life, receiving healing as part of my redemption package.

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A New and Better Covenant

He brought them

forth also with

a

God gave us a portrait of the new birth when silver and gold:

He delivered Israel from Egypt’s bondage.

and there was not

This biblical event is a picture of our coming one feeble person

out of Satan’s bondage into new freedom in among their tribes.

Jesus Christ.

—Psalm 105:37

The way Israel looked when they came out of Egypt is a picture of the way you and I should look the minute we’re born again. How did Israel look? Not only that, but Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold.”

The Israelites didn’t take silver and gold out of Egypt because they were wealthy. No, they’d been nothing but Egyptian slaves for centuries. God was the source of Israel’s sudden wealth. The first thing He did when He brought them out of bondage was to abundantly meet their needs.

God also provided physical health for the Israelites. “There was not one feeble person among their tribes.” He brought His people out of Egypt free and healthy.

The Passover opened the way to freedom, healing, and abundance for the Israelites. Now we live under a new and better covenant established on better promises. (Heb. 8:6.) So if God willed healing and health for His people under the old covenant, we can know without a doubt He wills healing and abundance for us under our covenant through Jesus Christ.

C o n fe s s i o n

The Lamb of God opened the way to abundantly supply all my needs—spirit, soul, and body. He provided healing for my physical body and peace for my soul. I walk in the fullness of the redemption Jesus purchased for me.

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Healing in the Atonement

a

…The children of Israel

murmured against

Numbers 16 provides another portrait of our Moses and against

Aaron.... And the Lord

redemption. Soon after the Israelites were spake unto Moses,

delivered out of Egypt’s bondage, they began to saying, Get you up from

worship idols and criticize the men of God in among this

congregation, that I

charge. Their muttering and complaining put may consume them as

them on dangerous territory.

in a moment….And

Moses said unto Aaron,

A plague hit the multitude and more than Take a censer, and put

14,000 died. Aaron quickly prepared incense to fire therein from off the

make atonement before all the people died. He altar, and put on

incense, and go quickly

ran into the midst of the congregation to make unto the congregation,

atonement, and the plague was stopped.

and make an

atonement for them: for

This is a portrait of the Atonement Jesus made there is wrath gone out

for us. You see, when Aaron made atonement for from the Lord; the

the sin of the Israelites, they were not only for-plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses

given, but the sick were healed. Well, if healing commanded, and ran

was included in atonement under the old into the midst of the

covenant, how much more is healing included in congregation; and,

behold, the plague was

the Atonement Jesus purchased for us?

begun among the

people: and he put on

C o n fe s s i o n

incense, and made an

atonement for the

Jesus is my Atonement. His sacrifice

people. And he stood

gives me access to all God’s blessings.

between the dead and

the living; and the

I receive them now by faith.

plague was stayed.

Now they that died in

the plague were

fourteen thousand and

seven hundred.

—Numbers 16:41,44-49

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Remember All God Has Done for You

And the soul of

the people was

a

As the children of Israel made their way toward much discouraged

the Promised Land, they became discouraged because of

because they were looking at the way—the the way.

natural hardships of their journey.

—Numbers 21:4

Just think what they could’ve focused on instead.

God had brought them out of Egypt with signs, wonders, and miracles. When they could go no farther because of the Red Sea, God worked another miracle, parting the waters so they could cro s s on dry ground. When the Egyptian army had tried to pursue them, the two walls of water had closed up again destroying their enemies.

When the Israelites had come to the waters of Marah, where the water was bitter, God had miraculously purified the waters so the people could have water to drink.

God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He gave them fresh manna from heaven every night; all they had to do was pick it up. He even gave them water out of a rock. And for the entire forty years they wandered through the desert, their shoes and clothes didn’t wear out.

Yet despite all of these things, they became discouraged because they looked at the way. Have we not done the same thing at times?

Encourage yourself today by realizing how much God has alre a d y done for you—and how much more He wants to do. It’s an instant cure for discouragement.

C o n fe s s i o n

Through the blood of Jesus, my Father has delivered me, protected me, provided for me, and healed me. So no matter what I face, I focus my spiritual eyes on my faithful God.

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We Choose What We Look At

a

And they

journeyed from

First Corinthians 10:11 tells us that what hap-mount Hor by pened to Israel was for our admonition. In fact, we can learn a lot by looking at Israel, a type of the way of the

the Church.

Red sea, to

When the Israelites came out of bondage in compass the land

Egypt, they headed toward the Promised Land.

of Edom: and

Now, the Promised Land is not a picture of the soul of the

heaven. (It had giants to overcome, and heaven d o e s n ’t.) The Promised Land is actually a people was much

picture of the abundant life God has for us discouraged

while we’re here on earth.

because of

Yet as Numbers 21:4 says, the Israelites the way.

m a rched through the wilderness becoming much discouraged because of the way. They —Numbers 21:4

were just like the rest of us and had a tendency to become discouraged when things got tough.

It’s easy to find natural circumstances that will discourage us if we look at them. For example, focusing on symptoms of pain or sickness in our bodies can be very disheartening.

But we choose what we’re going to look at. Will we set our eyes on the circumstances we face or on our great God and His ability to take us to our promised land of abundant life?

The Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3). Everything God has, is, and can do has been made available to us as we look to Him.

C o n fe s s i o n

I keep my eyes on Jesus and His Word. He is greater than any problem or sickness that could ever come against me.

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Keep Your Mouth Out of Trouble

And the soul of the

people was much

a

When the Israelites got discouraged, the first discouraged

thing they did was open their mouths. If you con-because of the tinue reading in Numbers, you’ll notice they got way. And the

into big trouble by muttering and complaining.

people spake

When some people are discouraged, the first against God, and

One they want to accuse is God. “God, why did against Moses,

You send me this trouble? Why did this disease Wherefore have ye

come on me? God, this is all Your fault!”

brought us up out

Others get mad at preachers when things don’t of Egypt to die in

seem to work out right. That’s what happened the wilderness? for

in the wilderness; the people came against the there is no bread,

two men who had delivered them.

neither is there any

God had protected the children of Israel every water; and our

step of the way, yet they were still discouraged and complained, “We ’ re going to die out here soul loatheth this

because we don’t have any bread or water.” They light bread.

f o rgot that God had already given them fre s h —Numbers 21:4,5

food from heaven and water from a rock! Then they admitted the real problem: They just didn’t like the light bread God gave them. Let their behavior be a lesson to us.

No matter how long it might take for your healing to manifest, don’t let discouragement get you in trouble. Remember, God has already provided healing for you so use your mouth to praise Him.

C o n fe s s i o n

Even in trying situations, I watch my words and refuse to blame God.

He’s the One who heals and delivers me.

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Don’t Step out of God’s Protection

a

And the Lord

sent fiery

After the Israelites complained against Moses serpents among

and God, an army of fiery serpents crawled into the camp and began biting them. The Isaac the people, and

Leeser translation says, “The Lord let loose they bit the

fiery serpents.”1

people; and

There’s a big difference between sending and much people of

letting loose. Remember, the Israelites were in Israel died.

the wilderness full of snakes. So the miracle was not that the snakes started biting them, but —Numbers 21:6

that three million people had lived in the wilderness not having been bitten until then!

God had supernaturally protected His people and kept the snakes out.

But when they broke their covenant through rebellion and complaining, God withdrew His merciful protection. Only then were they bitten. The people got into trouble spiritually when they sinned. Consequently, the serpents were able to enter the camp, and the people got into trouble physically as well.

“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people”

(v. 7). Isn’t it amazing how quickly the people got revelation that they had sinned. One minute they complained about Moses, but the next minute they wanted him to pray for them.

Moses could’ve said, “No way—you got what you had coming!” But instead he prayed for them. And God not only forgave His people of their sin, but He also healed them of their deadly wounds.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I miss it, I run to my Father for forgiveness.

I walk daily with Him as my Savior, Healer, and Protector.

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Behold Jesus and Live

…The Lord said

unto Moses, Make

a

God told Moses to put a brass serpent on a pole, thee a fiery

and whoever looked at the serpent would live.

serpent, and set it

Why? Well, the serpent is a type of Jesus Christ, upon a pole: and it

and brass is a type of judgment. Once again, the shall come to pass,

Israelites were looking at a portrait of redemp-that every one that tion—a vivid picture of Atonement.

is bitten, when he

Some might ask, “How can a serpent be a type looketh upon it,

of Jesus?” Ever since the Garden of Eden, a shall live. And

serpent has been a sign of sin.

Moses made a

Jesus never sinned in His life. But when He serpent of brass,

hung on the Cross, He became sin for us. At that and put it upon a

moment, God had to turn His back on His Son because all the sins and sicknesses of the world pole, and it came

w e re nailed to Jesus’ body on the Cro s s .

to pass, that if a

Judgment fell on Him instead of on us.

serpent had bitten

When Moses held up that serpent, he was showing any man, when he

a picture of Jesus who would someday hang on beheld the serpent

the Cross as the Atonement for all mankind.

of brass, he lived.

So when the children of Israel looked ahead t o —Numbers 21:8,9

what Jesus would do, they were forgiven and healed. And God didn’t turn anyone down: “ E v e ry o n e that is bitten, when he looks will live.” (v. 8.) Now, we can look back in faith to the forgiveness and healing Jesus already purchased for us. Behold Jesus and live!

C o n fe s s i o n

I behold Jesus and receive forgiveness and healing today.

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In Exchange for a Look Receive Life

a

And Moses

made a serpent

When the Israelites were bitten by snakes in of bronze and

the wilderness, God offered them life for a look!

put it on a pole,

Just because the bronze serpent was placed on and if a serpent

the pole didn’t mean the people would automatically be healed. God said, “Every one that had bitten any

is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live”

man, when he

(Num. 21:8). The answer was held up before looked to the

the Israelites, but they had to look at it.

serpent of bronze

After all, God didn’t say, “Once you put the [attentively,

serpent on a pole, take a quick glance and head expectantly, with

for home.” No, according to The Amplified Bible, a steady and

God said, “If you want to live, you’ll have to absorbing gaze],

attentively, expectantly and with a steady and he lived.

absorbing gaze look to the answer. ”

In essence, God was telling the Israelites, “You —Numbers

cannot look at the biting snakes and the serpent

21:9, AMP

on the pole at the same time. You must choose whether you gaze at the problem or the answer.

But if you want to live, you have to look to My answer.”

Healing was theirs for the taking as they looked at the serpent on the pole. The same is true for us today as we attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze fix our eyes on Jesus who “took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8:17.) C o n fe s s i o n

When symptoms of pain and sickness attack me, I look to Jesus.

He causes me to triumph in every situation as I look to Him.

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The Divine Exchange

For he hath made

[Jesus] to be sin for

a

When the Israelites were bitten by snakes, they us, who knew no

needed three answers: forgiveness for com-sin; that we might plaining, deliverance from the snakes, and be made the

healing of their wounds. However, God gave righteousness of

them only one answer: the serpent on a pole.

God in him.

How were the people forgiven, healed, and —2 Corinthians

delivered by looking at a picture of sin and sickness? Jesus Himself gives the answer in John

5:21

3:14: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Jesus was saying, “That serpent on the pole is a picture of Me on the Cross.”

When Jesus went to the Cross, a divine exchange took place. He became what we were and gave us what He is. Jesus became our substitute. He’d never sinned, but He became our sin. He was never sick Himself, but He took on our sickness. In exchange, Jesus gave us His right standing with God and His divine health.

So when the Israelites in the wilderness looked at a symbolic image of Jesus Christ going to the Cross, they were forgiven, healed, and delivere d .

When Jesus went to the Cross, He forgave our sins, purchased healing for us, and delivered us from the power of darkness. Then He was raised f rom the dead so we could become born again, new cre a t u res in Him.

When we look to Jesus and receive Him as Savior, everything He did for us on the Cross becomes ours.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus took sin and sickness and gave me righteousness, health, and eternal life. He paid for all these benefits and freely gives them to me when I ask in faith.

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Jesus, Our Scapegoat

a

And Aaron shall

lay both his

The Isaac Leeser translation of Isaiah 53:4 tells hands upon the

us Jesus took on our sicknesses and pains as our substitute so you and I wouldn’t have to head of the live

carry them: “But only our diseases did he bear goat, and confess

himself, and our pains he carried.”1

over him all the

But notice that in the King James Version Isaiah iniquities of the

used the words borne and carried. Those same children of Israel,

words are used in the book of Leviticus when referring to the role of the scapegoat. This and all their

scapegoat gives us another Old Testament por-transgressions in trait of redemption.

all their sins,

When Israel sinned, that sin had to be judged.

putting them

But God didn’t want the people to suffer judg-upon the head of ment; He wanted them to receive mercy. So He told them to find a spotless, perfect goat and the goat, and

have Aaron the priest lay hands on it and shall send him

confess the sins of the nation over it. The judg-away by the hand ment belonging to Israel then fell on that scape-of a fit man into goat. In other words, God allowed the sins of the people to be transferred to the goat, and the the wilderness:

goat bore them and carried them away.

and the goat

Jesus was our ultimate Scapegoat when He shall bear upon

hung on the Cross, taking the judgment and him all their

punishment we deserved so we could walk free iniquities unto a

from sin and sickness.

land not

C o n fe s s i o n

inhabited….

Jesus is my Substitute; He bore my sin

—Leviticus

and sickness so I wouldn’t have to. Now,

16:21,22

because of Jesus, I’m healed and whole.

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The Year of Jubilee

And ye shall

hallow the fiftieth

a

Another portrait of our redemption is found in year, and proclaim

this Scripture in Leviticus. While talking to liberty throughout

Moses on Mount Sinai, God established the Year all the land unto

of Jubilee. According to the instructions He all the inhabitants

gave to Moses, every fiftieth year would be a thereof: it shall be

special time of setting people free from debt a jubilee unto you;

and servitude. (vv. 8-10.)

and ye shall return

Yet, this wasn’t meant to be just an old covenant every man unto

blessing. When Jesus was just beginning His earthly ministry He said, “The Spirit of the Lord his possession, and

is upon me, because he hath anointed me to ye shall return

preach the gospel to the poor…to set at liberty every man unto

them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable his family.

year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18,19). Right then, —Leviticus 25:10

Jesus told us that part of His commission was to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, or the Year of Jubilee.

Jesus came to establish the new covenant through His death, burial, and resurrection. So, apparently, the Year of Jubilee was not only meant to be an Old Testament blessing, but also a New Testament blessing. The Old Testament Year of Jubilee was simply a picture of what Jesus Christ would one day do for us when He came to this earth—wipe out our debt of sin and set us free.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus is my Jubilee. He bought me back from the power of darkness and translated me into the kingdom of God. Praise God, He has made available everything I could ever need for an abundant life on this eart h .

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Sounding the Jubilee Trumpet

a

Then shalt thou

cause the trumpet

In the fiftieth year the Israelites celebrated the of jubilee to sound

Day of Atonement, when animal sacrifices were made to atone for the people’s sins. After atone-on the tenth day of ment was made, the trumpet of Jubilee was the seventh month,

sounded. It signaled freedom far and wide.

in the day of

Every man went back to his own possessions. If atonement shall ye

he had debts, they were forgiven. If he’d been forced to sell property to pay debts, the property make the trumpet

was returned. If he’d been sold as a servant or sound throughout

slave, he was set free.

all your land. And

The Year of Jubilee, then, was the year of for-ye shall hallow the giveness, freedom, and restoration to one’s fiftieth year, and

original position—a remarkable portrait of our new covenant redemption in Christ.

proclaim liberty

Today, as part of the body of Christ, we are throughout all the

sounding the trumpets by preaching and teach-land unto all the ing the Word of God and telling others the good inhabitants

news of Jesus’ Atonement for them.

thereof: it shall be

Thank God, Jesus came and atoned us once and for all. Every one of the Old Testament animal a jubilee unto you;

sacrifices was simply a picture of when Jesus and ye shall

would someday die on the Cross for us. Jesus return every

wiped out our debt and liberated us from every man unto his

bondage of the enemy.

possession, and

C o n fe s s i o n

ye shall return

I’m a trumpet in my Father’s hands.

every man unto

I proclaim liberty to the captives, and

his family.

I tell of Jesus’ power to heal and deliver —Leviticus 25:9,10

from every bondage of the enemy.

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Returned to Our Original Possession

And ye shall

hallow the fiftieth

a

In the Year of Jubilee every man was to return year, and proclaim

to his original possessions. Likewise, we’re liberty throughout

supposed to return to man’s original state—to all the land unto

all Adam possessed in the Garden of Eden all the inhabitants

before he lost everything.

thereof: it shall be

So what was our original possession? When we a jubilee unto you;

know that, we’ll know what God wants us to return to.

and ye shall return

In 1 Corinthians 15:45, God makes a comparison every man unto

between the first Adam and the last Adam: “The his possession, and

first man Adam was made a living soul; the last ye shall return

Adam was made a quickening spirit.” The first every man unto

Adam disobeyed God and got mankind in trouble.

his family.

The last Adam was Jesus Christ who made atonement for us when He died on the Cross —Leviticus 25:10

and God raised Him from the dead. By laying down His life, Jesus enabled us to return to the original possession Adam had before the Fall, a family relationship with God. Adam was even called the son of God. (Luke 3:38.) But when he sinned in the Garden, he broke that relationship.

So what do we return to? We return to our relationship with God. That’s why 1 John 3:1 says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” When we receive Jesus, our Jubilee, He sets us free to become the sons of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I was born again, Jesus—my Jubilee—gave me back a re l a t i o n s h i p with my Father. I’m privileged to be called a son or daughter of God.

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Adam’s Blessings Restored to Us

a

And ye shall

return every

What did Adam have before the Fall? He man unto his

enjoyed relationship and fellowship with God.

Adam walked and talked with God in the cool of possession.

the day. But after he fell God came looking for —Leviticus 25:10

him, calling, “Adam where are you?” (Gen. 3:9.) “I hid myself,” (v. 10) Adam answered because their fellowship had been broken.

What about our fellowship with God? Well, because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection we can be restored right back to our original position in God the very minute we’re born again.

God invites His children to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Heb.

4:16). We can talk to God not just as servants or friends, but as sons and daughters. We’re brought back into the fellowship Adam lost.

Adam also possessed supernatural intelligence and memory before the Fall. Think about it. God brought every living creature to Adam who named them all. (Gen. 2:19,20.) Even more remarkable, Adam remembered every one of their names. When you’re born again, that same capacity for supernatural intelligence is returned to you.

T h e re ’s more. God wanted to make sure Adam was abundantly taken care of, so when He saw it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone, God formed Eve.

And He also showed Adam where all the gold was buried. (Gen. 2:11.) God wants to meet our needs as well, which is why He sent Jesus to the C ross for you and me. Now, once again, God’s sons and daughters can enjoy fellowship with the Father, a sound mind, and every need abundantly met.

C o n fe s s i o n

God has restored to me all Adam possessed before he sinned in the G a rden. I have fellowship with God, a sound mind, and everything I need.

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Our Day of Atonement

And ye shall return

every man unto

a

Just as the Year of Jubilee enabled the Israelites his possession, and

to return to their original possessions, salvation ye shall return

through Jesus enables us to return to the origi-every man unto nal position Adam enjoyed with God.

his family.

In that original state, Adam was healthy. No —Leviticus 25:10

sickness or disease existed in his body because no sickness or disease existed on earth.

If God had wanted man sick, He would’ve created sickness. But God never said, “Let there be cancer or colds and flu.” Instead, the Bible tells us God sent His Word to heal us. (Ps. 107:20.) Matthew 8:17 says, “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Referring to Jesus, 1 Peter 2:24 says, “By whose stripes ye were healed.”

Adam enjoyed divine health and every need met before he sinned. All he had to do was obey God’s command to stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But when the serpent said, “Go ahead and eat from it,” Adam disobeyed God and chose a new master. (Gen. 3:4-6.) At that moment, he lost all the blessings that had been his to enjoy.

From that point on, Adam and his descendants were plagued with hate, murder, poverty, and sickness.

Yet, thank God, our day of atonement finally came. Jesus became the sac-rificial Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29.) The last Adam purchased back everything the first Adam lost. Now, through Jesus, we can come into the family of God fully restored.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus restored me to all the benefits God originally planned for mankind. Because of Jesus, I walk in divine health with all my needs met—spirit, soul, and body.

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April
1

Receiving Your Petition by Faith

a

And this is the

confidence that

This Scripture promises if you pray in faith we have in him,

according to God’s will, you can have whatever you ask for. God Himself has promised He will that, if we ask

hear you and answer you.

any thing

Your part is to pray according to God’s will and according to his

to pray in faith.

will, he heareth

How can you pray according to God’s will?

us: and if we

That’s easy. God’s Word is His will, and from cover to cover, the Bible proclaims healing know that he

legally belongs to you.

hear us,

The prayer of faith is how you take hold of your whatsoever we

healing. You see, all prayers must be prayed in ask, we know

faith because faith is the currency that receives from heaven.

that we have the

You pray in faith by believing you receive your petitions that we

answer at the very moment you pray—even in desired of him.

the face of symptoms and circumstances. Mark —1 John 5:14,15

11:24 says, “…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them….”

Notice you don’t keep requesting your petition over and over again.

Think about it. Why would you ask again, if you really believe you have received? In fact, 20th century apostle of faith Smith Wigglesworth said if you pray for something seven times, the first six were in unbelief.

So meditate on Scriptures that cover your case until your heart is filled with God’s will. Then lock onto your petition in faith and watch God deliver your answer.

C o n fe s s i o n

I fill my heart with God’s will on healing and pray in faith to receive.

Thank You, Father, for hearing me and granting my petition.

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April
2

Jesus Paid for Physical Healing

Who his own self

bare our sins in

a

This Scripture is a New Testament portrait of his own body on

redemption—a picture of what Jesus did for you the tree, that we,

and me.

being dead to sins,

While teaching on this verse one day I made the should live unto

comment, “This Scripture proves healing belongs to anyone who’s saved because it righteousness: by

covers both sides of redemption in one verse.”

whose stripes ye

A person attending the meeting spoke up were healed.

saying, “Apparently, you think this Scripture refers to physical healing, but it’s talking about —1 Peter 2:24

spiritual healing.”

Before I realized what happened, I heard these words come out my mouth: “When you were saved, what happened in your spirit?”

“God took out the heart of stone and put in a heart of flesh,” he replied.

“He gave me a new spirit.”

“Why did you have to be born again?” I asked.

“Because I was spiritually dead,” he said.

“Why would you need spiritual healing then?” I asked. “You can’t heal something that’s dead—it has to be reborn.”

You see, when we’re spiritually dead, we don’t need to get spiritually healed. That won’t do the job. We must be born again. The Bible says, “ T h e re f o re if any man be in Christ, he is a new cre a t u re: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). God gives us brand-new spirits that don’t need healing—only our physical bodies do.

So live in the fullness of your redemption—your spirit reborn and your body healed by the power of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus’ sacrifice was more than enough to save and heal.

I have a brand-new spirit and a healed body because of Jesus.

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April
3

His Death for Our Life

a

For God so

loved the world,

What is the Atonement? It’s the redemptive that he gave his

work Jesus accomplished when He went to the Cross as our Substitute and paid the price for only begotten

our sins with His blood. He was also chastised Son, that

for our peace and broken in His body for our whosoever

physical healing. (Isa. 53:5.)

believeth in him

The Atonement is the most basic of all should not

Christian truths—the very essence of what we perish, but have

believe. It isn’t complicated theology or church everlasting life.

doctrine. Atonement is His death for our life.

If you don’t understand and believe Jesus —John 3:16

Christ shed His blood for your sins and was raised again from the dead so you could be born again, His death won’t do you any good. Likewise, if you don’t understand and believe Jesus bore stripes on His back for your physical healing, His broken body won’t do you any good.

It all boils down to what you understand. Faith can’t operate where the will of God isn’t known; neither can the will of God be known about a subject if you have no knowledge. In other words, the only part of the Atonement that will work for you is the part you understand and believe.

Spend time in God’s Word understanding and believing all that Jesus accomplished in the Atonement so you’re able to take full advantage of what Jesus purchased for you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe Jesus Christ shed His blood for my sins.

I believe He bore stripes for my physical healing.

By faith I take full advantage of the benefits He paid for.

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April
4

A Promissory Note on Redemption

That it might be

fulfilled which was

a

Do you realize Jesus healed people before He spoken by Esaias

ever went to the Cross?

the prophet,

At the Cross, healing was provided as part of saying, Himself

G o d ’s redemption plan, but Jesus pro v e d took our

redemption beforehand by giving people part of infirmities, and

it on a promissory note. Every time He forgave bare our

people of their sins, in essence He was saying, sicknesses.

“I’ll pay for it later.” Every time He healed the multitudes, He was saying, “I’ll pay for it later.”

—Matthew 8:17

Jesus knew those sicknesses and diseases would be on His own back in a short period of time, but He still let His compassion flow out. He wanted to prove to the world that redemption, freedom, peace, and healing belong to every single person.

Jesus didn’t turn anyone down. Matthew 8:16 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.” The people brought the sick, and He healed all who came to Him for help.

Jesus didn’t question who the sick people were or where they came from. If redemption belonged to all mankind, it had to be clearly shown that it was available to every person. So to all who came to Him in faith, Jesus delivered a promissory note on God’s redemption plan—a promise He would pay for later.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus’ own life was a demonstration of God’s will.

I know God wants me well because Jesus healed all who came to Him and paid the price to make healing available to me.

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April
5

Split the Atonement in Two?

a

But he was

wounded for our

In the past, many in the body of Christ have transgressions,

tried to split the Atonement down the middle.

Then they’ve tried to separate the two halves.

he was bruised

They say, “Thank God, salvation is for anyone, for our

any time. Second Peter 3:9 says, ‘The Lord iniquities: the

is...not willing that any should perish, but that chastisement of

all should come to repentance.’ So whoever our peace was

wants to be saved may freely come.”

upon him; and

“ H o w e v e r,” they continue, “healing is not for with his stripes

t o d a y.” Or they say, “God can heal, but He nor-we are healed.

mally doesn’t. He heals some, but He doesn’t heal e v e ryone.” Or perhaps they rationalize, “God has —Isaiah 53:5

replaced healing with doctors and hospitals.”

But no one has a right to split the Atonement down the middle. Jesus paid the price for us spirit, soul, and body.

One half of the Atonement is the forgiveness of sin; the other half of the Atonement is healing for the physical body. Jesus Christ not only paid the price for our sins and iniquities, but at the same time He also paid the price for our sicknesses and diseases. When the body of Christ grabs hold of that revelation, the sick will be healed, the weak will be made strong, and the healthy will stay well.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus wants me saved and healthy, so He purchased my salvation and healing with His own death on the Cross.

His body was broken for me; His blood was shed for me.

And I gladly receive the salvation and healing He provided.

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April
6

Forever Redeemed

In whom we have

redemption

a

When Jesus shed His blood on the Cross He through his blood,

redeemed us, which means “to purchase or buy the forgiveness of

back.”1

sins, according

For example, years ago stores off e red gre e n to the riches of

stamps as an incentive to buy groceries in their his grace.

s t o re. After collecting and filling several books of stamps you could visit a “redemption center. ”

—Ephesians 1:7

The center was stocked with all kinds of nice gifts: radios, stereos, camping supplies, and so forth. But you couldn’t buy those items with money; you had to redeem them with green stamps.

Likewise, Jesus redeemed us with His own blood. You see, when Adam sinned mankind fell into a state of spiritual death, or separation from God. Along with sin came sickness, poverty, fear, and failure.

Man was in the grips of sin under Satan’s control, but God wanted to buy him back. Silver and gold couldn’t do it. Only one price was enough to buy man back—sinless, spotless blood.

So God sent His only begotten Son to be our sacrifice. Jesus took on flesh and walked sinless among us as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Then He shed His perfect, spotless blood on the Cross, redeeming us from Satan’s dominion.

Now, all we have to do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord. (Rom. 10:9,10.) At that moment, we’re translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light— forever redeemed.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m redeemed from Satan’s control. Sickness no longer has jurisdiction over me. Divine health is a benefit of my Father’s kingdom, and I walk in all the benefits Jesus purchased for me.

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April
7

Jesus Bore the Punishment We Deserved a

In whom we

have redemption

When Jesus finished the earthly ministry God through his

had given Him, He was about thirty-three years old. Only one thing was left to do. Jesus, the Son blood, even

of God, had to die on the Cross. Just imagine.

the forgiveness

Jesus—who never sinned, never made a of sins.

mistake in His life, and never hurt anyone but —Colossians

instead helped everyone—had to die to pay the

1:14

ultimate price for you and me.

The cross was a death reserved for criminals. If anyone belonged on that cross, it was you and me—not Jesus.

The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

(Rom. 3:23). We were the ones who sinned, made mistakes, and hurt people; we deserved to go to the place of judgment. But Jesus took our place. He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”

(John 1:29).

The Bible says, “Without shedding of blood [there] is no remission” (Heb.

9:22). Someone had to die for us. We deserved death, but Jesus took our death on Himself so we can walk in newness of life.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus, my Savior, redeemed me. With the price of His own blood, He became the way for me to be reconciled to the Father.

He took my spiritual death and my sicknesses so I could have His eternal life and health.

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April
8

We’re Already Delivered

Who hath

delivered us from

a

When Jesus redeemed us, He delivered us fro m the power of

the power of darkness. That means every darkness, and

Christian is a l ready delivere d , even though some hath translated us

Christians still run around trying to get delivered.

into the kingdom

For instance, one evening a lady came over to me of his dear Son.

in a meeting and said, “I need to be delivere d . ”

—Colossians 1:13

“Ma’am, you came to the right place,” I replied.

“I have good news for you!” Her eyes lit up.

Then I asked, “Do you have a Bible?”

She gave me a wary look and said, “Yes.”

I told her to open to Colossians 1:13 and read it, which she did: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

I instructed the woman to read the first part again several times: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness....” I could tell she was getting angry with me. Then I said, “Well, did Jesus deliver us from the power of darkness or not? Either the Bible is true or it isn’t.”

“I know the Bible says that,” she replied, “but you’re not getting rid of me that easy! I want help! I want something that works.”

“Ma’am, you’ll never find anything that works any better,” I said.

Christians who run around trying to get delivered ought to read the Bible. Then they’d realize they’ve already been delivered! Start each day off praising and thanking God for delivering you, and there isn’t a devil in hell who will stick around.

C o n fe s s i o n

Thank God, I’m free! My God delivered me from the power of darkness, and sin and sickness no longer have control over me.

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April
9

He Already Paid the Price

a

Giving thanks

unto the Father,

Jesus went to the Cross and shed His blood for you which hath

and me. Through His death, burial, and re s u rre ction He forgave our sins, redeemed us, delivere d made us meet to

us from the power of darkness, and enabled us to be partakers of

become partakers of God’s inheritance.

the inheritance

Yet most Christians have had little understand-of the saints ing of what redemption really is all about. They in light.

will say, “Well, redemption is when Jesus —Colossians

redeemed me from sin.”

1:12

That’s true, but there’s so much more! Thank God, we’ve been redeemed from every single curse in the Old Testament—that includes sickness. Jesus didn’t do away with any blessings in the Old Testament; He just added to them to create a new and better covenant.

Look at Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus not only redeemed us from our sins, but He also redeemed us from torment and oppression so we could have peace. He redeemed us from sickness so we could have health.

God’s report says we were forgiven, delivered, and healed. Now we can just reach out in faith to receive any of these covenant blessings. They all belong to us because Jesus already paid the price.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m free from sin and all its effects—worry, anxiety, fear, sickness, and pain. God’s inheritance blesses me—spirit, soul, and body.

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April
1 0

Saved and Healed

Being justified

freely by his grace

a

Once believers receive a revelation of the through the

redemption Jesus purchased on the Cross, it redemption that is

changes them. Nothing can stop them anymore.

in Christ Jesus.

I’m not talking about a mental assent to the —Romans 3:24

truth. I’m talking about people who say from their hearts, “Yes, that’s the truth, and the truth is setting me free!”

Consider how a person is adopted into God’s family. The minute a person finds out Jesus’ blood was shed for the forgiveness of his sins, he can confess Jesus as his Savior, and not a devil in hell can stop him from getting born again. Peace and fellowship with God are available to anyone who receives Jesus in faith.

The same thing happens in the area of healing when people discover the truth that healing is included in the Atonement. Miracles abound when people act on that revelation. And, in fact, as believers proclaim that Jesus redeemed mankind from both sin and sickness, people jump up to get saved and healed at the same time!

As believers, we must be sure to establish the truth in our hearts that just as Jesus’ blood was shed for us, just as much as His body was broken for us. Then we will not only be saved, but we will also rise up healed.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for my total redemption from the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, I receive healing from the Father as freely as I received salvation.

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April
1 1

Redeemed From the Curse of the Law

a

Christ hath

redeemed us from

Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the the curse of the

Law, which is outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. The Lord told the children of Israel if they law, being made a

didn’t obey Him, all the terrible curses listed in curse for us: for it

this passage would come upon them.

is written, Cursed

Spiritual death is a part of the curse—so are is every one that

poverty and every kind of sickness and disease.

hangeth on a tree:

Verse 61 says, “Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this That the blessing

law, them will the Lord bring upon thee.”

of Abraham might

But Galatians 3:13-14 tells us the good news: come on the

Believers have been redeemed from the curse Gentiles through

of the Law through the death, burial, and res-Jesus Christ; that urrection of Jesus. That curse doesn’t exist anymore for the believer. Deuteronomy 28:15-we might receive 68 doesn’t apply to God’s children because the promise of the

Jesus took that curse upon Himself when He Spirit through

went to the Cross. That’s the Good News!

faith.

In Deuteronomy 28:1-14, the Lord gives us the blessing of Abraham. That blessing includes —Galatians

divine health. We’ve been redeemed from the

3:13,14

curse of every sickness and every plague—even those not mentioned in the Law. That means we’ve been redeemed from cancer, arthritis, colds, and flu. If we can name it, praise God, we’ve been redeemed from it!

C o n fe s s i o n

When I received Jesus as my Savior, He freed me from the curse of the Law. Jesus took the curse upon Himself as my substitute, and now I’m redeemed from every disease. I walk in divine health.

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April
1 2

Don’t Carry the Devil’s Burden

But Christ being

come an high

a

Some people think Jesus came to help us carry priest of good

our burdens. “Oh, Lord,” they pray, “if You things to come, by

could just help me bear this disease until the a greater and

end, I’d sure appreciate it. Maybe if You carry more perfect

half, I could carry the other half.”

tabernacle, not

Yet, these people don’t realize what actually made with hands,

took place in redemption. They may understand Jesus took their sins to the Cross and wiped that is to say, not

their slate free of sin. They may even re a l i z e of this building;

God doesn’t want them to take the condemna-neither by the tion for those sins back on themselves again.

blood of goats and

But people must also realize Jesus completed a calves, but by his

full redemption for them. Not only did He take own blood he

on Himself their sin, but He bore their sickness and disease as well.

entered in once

Just as we’ve known God doesn’t want us to live into the holy place,

in sin, we must know God doesn’t want us to having obtained

live in sickness either. Jesus paid the price to eternal redemption

redeem us from both sin and sickness. He for us.

already carried it all for us! So Jesus doesn’t want us carrying the burden of our sicknesses —Hebrews 9:11, 12

any more than He wants us carrying the burden of our sins. Sin and sickness belong in the devil’s kingdom, but we’re now citizens of the kingdom of light.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m redeemed from the curse of the Law. I refuse to carry the burden of sickness because Jesus already bore my sicknesses and carried my pains. By His stripes, I’m healed!

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April
13

The Same Price

a

And it shall

come to pass,

Who does redemption belong to? It belongs to that whosoever

“whosoever” will call on the name of the Lord shall call on the

Jesus Christ.

name of the

It’s said all through the Bible. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all Lord shall

should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus be saved.

said in John 6:37, “Him that cometh to me I will —Acts 2:21

in no wise cast out.” And John 1:12 tells us, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.”

Jesus died on the Cross for every person. Anyone who believes in Him can freely come into God’s family through His blood. But not only did He provide salvation for all mankind; He also provided peace of mind and physical healing to anyone who will receive it. He paid the same price for it all.

That means because of Jesus’ resurrection, your spirit can be born again.

And you can also enjoy peace of mind and a healthy body. First you receive the Healer; then you receive His healing touch, though sometimes God supernaturally heals the lost to get their attention.

You see, salvation results from accepting the spiritual side of redemption. Then it’s up to you to walk in the soulish and physical sides of Jesus’

redemptive work.

Jesus has already provided all of it for you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m redeemed for I’ve called on the name of the Lord. I’m healed.

I’m peaceful. And I’m so grateful for all my Lord has done for me.

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April
1 4

Healing Is Simple

And Jesus went

about all the cities

a

God’s Word is simple and easy to understand.

and villages,

He didn’t make it complicated because He teaching in their

didn’t want anyone left out of His blessings.

synagogues, and

Yet some people are deceived into thinking it’s preaching the

hard to receive from God, especially in the area gospel of the

of divine healing. They beg, plead, cry, bawl, kingdom, and

and squall to be healed yet to no avail.

H o w e v e r, it’s easy to receive healing. Why healing every

would it be hard to obtain something that sickness and

already belongs to us? Jesus purchased healing every disease

for us with the stripes on His back. We just have among the people.

to reach out and take what’s already ours!

The only reason it’s seemed difficult to receive —Matthew 9:35

healing is that we’ve lacked a thorough understanding of Jesus’ work on the Cross. Thank God, what Jesus provided for us in the Atonement is simple to receive.

Think about it: Was it difficult to get saved? No, we simply found out God loved us, believed in our hearts Jesus was raised from the dead, and confessed Him as our Savior.

Healing is received the very same way. We find out healing is God’s will for us, believe in our hearts we receive our healing, and confess Jesus as our Healer. It’s as simple as that.

We’re healed by faith just as we’re saved by faith. As we learn to appropriate what already belongs to us, we’ll walk in blessings far beyond what we can ask or think.

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing is simple: God wants me well! I know Jesus’ body was broken so I could have His health, so right now I believe I receive my healing.

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April
15

Confess, Believe, Receive

a

If thou shalt

confess with thy

It’s so easy to receive from God. God made it mouth the Lord

easy. He purchased everything we could ever need and then told us, “Just take it.”

Jesus, and shalt

Someone may say, “But believing God for believe in thine

healing is so hard.” Wait! Do you know you’re heart that God

saved? Doesn’t that mean you’ve alre a d y hath raised him

believed for the biggest miracle there is?

from the dead,

One day you said, “Lord, I believe in my heart thou shalt

Jesus was raised from the dead for me. I receive Him as my Savior, and I’m a new crea-be saved.

ture in Christ!”

—Romans 10:9

You didn’t labor and strain and stand on the Word of God for years to get saved. Neither do you get up every morning to see if you still feel saved. You know you’re saved, because the Bible tells you so!

Well, if getting saved is the biggest miracle, would a lesser miracle such as healing be more difficult to receive? No! We receive salvation and healing exactly the same way; they’re both part of redemption.

You’ll be amazed at your results if you simply receive healing by faith the same way you once received salvation. Just say, “Lord, I believe by Jesus’

stripes I’m healed, and I receive You as my Healer now. I count it done in Jesus’ name!”

Don’t check to see if you feel healed—you aren’t healed because you feel better. You’re healed because the Bible says so. And if you hold fast to your faith, your healing will come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

I confess from a believing heart that Jesus is my Savior— and my Healer. I receive healing now by the stripes of Jesus.

111

April
1 6

Head Faith vs. Heart Faith

Wherefore, sirs, be

of good cheer: for

a

How can we know if we’re really in heart faith I believe God, that

and not head faith or mental assent? That’s an it shall be even

important question. We have to learn how to as it was told me.

locate ourselves in faith so we can effectively —Acts 27:25

receive from God.

Head faith says, “I believe the Word, but look at the size of this problem.” Or, “I believe I’m healed, but I feel so sick. And, hey, did you hear what the doctor said?”

Head faith is really “billygoat” faith—it likes to “but.” “I believe the Bible, but…. ” “I believe for healing, but…. ”

On the other hand, heart faith says, “I see the problems or symptoms, but no matter, the Bible is my final authority. It will be as God’s Word promises me.”

Heart faith fixes its attention on the Word and always finishes with this statement: “I believe God no matter what it looks or feels like.”

Faith doesn’t deny symptoms or circumstances, nor buries its head in the sand and hopes problems go away. Faith faces problems head on and says, “It may look bad, but I have inside information. I’m coming through this as an overcomer in Jesus Christ!”

In a boat about to sink during a storm Paul said, “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). We must say the same thing.

Sure—the storms of life come to all, and there’s no denying it. Yet, we put our faith in something bigger, better, and higher: God’s Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

My faith rests in God’s Word that’s greater than symptoms or circumstances. Therefore, I’m of good cheer no matter what I feel or see!

112

April
17

The Rest of Faith

a

For unto us was

the gospel

Does this sound familiar? Yo u ’ re facing a situation where everything looks, sounds, and feels preached, as well

bad. There seems to be no way out. But for some as unto them: but

reason, you can’t work up a good worry about it.

the word

“Don’t you know how serious this is?” people preached did not

ask. But you walk around with this silly grin on your face, saying, “I just can’t seem to get con-profit them, not cerned. Everything will be all right.”

being mixed with

“How do you know it will be all right?” they ask.

faith in them

“I just know.”

that heard it.

That’s called the rest of faith. Things look bad on the outside, but on the inside you sense only For we which

a velvety, peaceful rest.

have believed do

Hebrews 4:3 talks about the rest of faith: “We enter into rest.

which have believed do enter into rest.” Now, God isn’t talking here about physical or mental —Hebrews 4:2,3

rest. Even when your mind gives you fits, a quiet peace prevails deep down inside.

Consider this second scenario: You’re in a situation that looks, sounds, and feels bad, and you’re endeavoring to believe God. You pray, “Oh, God, this better work!” You scrunch your face and say, “God, I’m trying to believe, but if You don’t come through, I’m sunk!” That is definitely not the rest of faith.

What’s the difference between the first and second responses? The difference is in what you believe.

So if you need healing in your body, put your faith in God and His Word and enter into rest.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ve entered into rest believing God’s Word. I’m confident I’m healed, for I know my God has already won my victory.

113

April
1 8

Enter Into Rest

For only we who

believe God can

a

enter into his

When you’re in a difficult situation and you need a miracle, locate what you believe. Do you place of rest.

believe what God’s Wo rd says? Or do you —Hebrews 4:3 TLB

believe what people or circumstances say?

Hebrews 4:3 says, “We which have believed do enter into rest.” Belief produces rest, and what you hear determines what you believe.

So if you see you haven’t entered into the rest of faith, don’t waste your time feeling condemned, discouraged, or upset about it. Just realize your belief isn’t strong enough yet to produce rest.

What do you do? Find out what God’s Word says about your situation.

Search for Scriptures that cover your case. Feed on the Word at every opportunity because hearing produces faith.

Listen to good healing tapes again and again. Read good books on healing, such as Christ the Healer by F. F. Bosworth. Don’t just read the books once and set them down; read them from cover to cover several times until you’re full of the Word on healing. Then out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak. (Matt. 12:34.) You’ll find yourself saying, “It’s so good to be healed!”

And when someone asks, “Do you feel better? Are the symptoms gone?”

you’ll say, “I haven’t checked yet, but I know I’m healed because the Bible says so. God says healing is mine, and I have whatever God says!”

Remember, hearing produces faith, faith produces rest, and the rest of faith produces results!

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word is firmly lodged down in my heart, and I enter into rest. God’s Word is greater inside me than what I see with my natural eye. It’s so good to be healed.

114

April
19

Manifestations of the Spirit

a

But the

manifestation of

This is a list of the nine gifts, or manifestations, the Spirit is given

of the Spirit. Some have thought this passage of to every man to

Scripture only refers to natural abilities God profit withal. For

gives people. But God calls them supernatural manifestations of the Spirit, or sudden actions to one is given by

of the Holy Ghost.

the Spirit the word

Notice that healing is among this list of spiritual of wisdom; to

gifts. The phrase “gifts of healing” refers to another the word

supernatural manifestations of the Holy Ghost of knowledge by

to produce physical healings in the physical the same Spirit; to

body. God works many kinds of miracles on the another faith by

earth, but this Scripture proves He performs the same Spirit; to

healing miracles.

another the gifts of

Now look at verse 11: “But all these worketh healing by the

that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to same Spirit; to

every man severally as he will.” We might wish we could control the gifts of the Spirit, but we another the

don’t. They operate as God wills. The gifts are working of

given to the Church, but the manifestations are miracles; to

controlled by the Holy Ghost.

another prophecy;

In fact, we don’t know how, when, or for whom to another

the gifts will manifest. But we can be assured discerning of

that “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to spirits; to another

every man to profit withal” (v. 7).

divers kinds of

C o n fe s s i o n

tongues; to another

the interpretation

Because of His goodness and mercy,

of tongues.

God manifests His power through the nine —1 Corinthians

gifts of the Spirit. Thank God for gifts of

12:7-10

healing manifesting still today.

115

April
2 0

The Sovereign Side of God

Thus saith the

Lord the King of

a

Let’s talk about the sovereign side of God. God Israel, and his

is the sovereign Creator of the universe, the redeemer the Lord

God of heaven and earth. He can work miracles of hosts; I am the

within the boundaries of His Word any time and first, and I am the

any place He wants to—even without our last; and beside me

approval.

there is no God.Is

Just think about your own life. Have you ever received something from God you were n ’t there a God beside

believing for? You probably have more times me? yea, there is

than you can count.

no God; I know

Most of us wouldn’t have lived this long if God not any.

hadn’t sovereignly done some things for us —Isaiah 44:6,8

along the way. His love goes a long way.

For instance, look at Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to persecute even more Christians when “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven” (Acts 9:3). Jesus appeared to Saul that day on the road to Damascus, and Saul was born again.

I wasn’t saved that way. I heard the Gospel preached, believed it, and confessed Jesus as Lord. I never saw a bright light from heaven.

But God has left Himself room to sovereignly intervene in a person’s life, as He did with Saul. Why did God intervene with Saul? I don’t know, but it sure paid off because the apostle Paul wrote half the New Testament.

C o n fe s s i o n

Sometimes my Father moves in miraculous or unusual ways, but I don’t have to wait for that to happen. I can go to God any time and receive by faith whatever He’s promised in His Word.

116

April
2 1

The Father’s Love

a

A certain man had two

sons; And the younger of

God performs miracles in two different ways: them said to his father,

By sovereignly initiating a miracle at His will, Father, give me the

or initiating a miracle at our will in response to portion of goods that

our faith. For the next few days, we’ll see this falleth to me. And he

principle illustrated in Jesus’ story of the prodi-divided unto them his gal son.

living. And not many

days after the younger

This is the account of the younger son who left son gathered all

his father’s house to indulge in sin. Eventually, together, and took his

he realized the pleasures of sin weren’t worth journey into a far

the price he was paying. He decided he’d be country, and there

better off back in his father’s house if only a wasted his substance

servant. But his father received him with open with riotous living. And

arms and sovereignly went out of his way to when he came to

prove his love. (vv. 22-24.)

himself, he said…. I will

This is really a picture of our loving heavenly arise and go to my

Father who also welcomes back into fellowship father, and will say unto

His repentant children. Often God will sover-him, Father, I have eignly perform miracles to show them how sinned against heaven,

much He loves them.

and before thee.

And he arose, and came

C o n fe s s i o n

to his father. But when

he was yet a great way

I’m grateful when God performs

off, his father saw him,

sovereign miracles in my life,

and had compassion,

but I can always depend on Him to

and ran, and fell on his

perform His Word as I walk by faith.

neck, and kissed him.

—Luke 15:11-

13,17,18,20

117

April
2 2

The Elder Son’s Inheritance

Now his elder son was

in the field: and as he

a

came and drew nigh to

The elder son was upset. He’d stayed home the house, he heard

with the father and worked while his younger musick and dancing.

brother wasted his inheritance through riotous And he was angry, and

living. Now his brother returned home, and his father proved his love by clothing him luxuri-would not go in: ously and killing the fatted calf for a feast in his therefore came his father

honor. (vv. 22,23.)

out, and entreated him.

And he answering said

Sometimes Christians feel like that elder son.

to his father, Lo, these

They see God miraculously heal a backslider many years do I serve

who doesn’t have an ounce of faith. This proves to the backslider that God loves him. But some-thee, neither times believers get upset and say, “Why did God transgressed I at any

heal that person? I’ve never backslidden, but time thy commandment:

He didn’t heal me.”

and yet thou never

gavest me a kid, that I

In essence, this is what the older son said. He’d been faithful, yet there was no big celebration might make merry with

in his honor. But the elder son could have what-my friends: but as soon ever he desired any time. His father told him, as this thy son was

“Son, all I have belongs to you!”

come, which hath

devoured thy living with

Your heavenly Father is saying the same thing harlots, thou hast killed

to you.

for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him,

C o n fe s s i o n

Son, thou art ever with

Because I’m a child of God,

me, and all that I have

everything my Father has is mine.

is thine….

Healing is mine, and by faith, I accept it now.

—Luke 15:25,28-31

118

April
2 3

Everything God Has Is Yours

a

And he said

unto him, Son,

“All that I have is thine.” This is what God says thou art ever

to His faithful children. So often believers ask, “God, why don’t You work a miracle for me?”

with me, and all

But God responds, “Child, you are with Me.

that I have is

Everything I have is yours. Healing is yours.

thine. It was

Don’t wait for Me to sovereignly step out and do meet that we

something for you. Come get it any time you should make

want. Receive it by faith!”

merry, and be

So often we’ve wanted God to do something glad: for this thy

special for us, but He expects more out of us as brother was

His children. He didn’t say, “The just shall live dead, and is

by the gifts of the Spirit or the sovereignty of God.” He said, “The just shall live by faith”

alive again; and

(Rom. 1:17).

was lost, and is

We must find in the Word what belongs to us found.

through God’s plan of redemption, then take —Luke 15:31,32

hold of it with the hand of faith. Everything He has is ours—it belongs to us.

C o n fe s s i o n

Everything my Father has is mine. He has provided everything I could ever need. So I receive my needs met now in Jesus’ name.

119

April
2 4

God Limits Himself to His Word

I will worship

toward thy holy

a

I’ve heard people say, “God is sovereign so He temple, and praise

can make you sick if He wants to.” But God gave thy name for thy

us His Wo rd, which says He is our healer, and lovingkindness

p romises He’d never go outside its boundaries.

and for thy truth:

I’ve heard other people say, “I know what His for thou hast

Word says, but God is still God and He can do magnified thy

anything He wants.” In other words, they’re word above all

saying, “God’s Word is one thing, but He is God.

thy name.

He has a title that enables Him to do anything He wants.”

—Psalm 138:2

But the Word says, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” God is the sovereign God of the universe, but He has elevated His Word above His name. He has limited Himself within the boundaries of His Word.

God is saying He can sovereignly manifest anything promised in His Word through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, but He cannot sovereignly steal, kill, and destroy. That’s the work of the devil. (John 10:10.) By the decree of His own Word, God is a merciful, loving Father who has only good gifts to give. (James 1:17.) C o n fe s s i o n

My God is my healer, and He has magnified His Word above His own holy name. According to that Word, I believe healing is mine now.

120

April
25

Learning To Walk by Faith

a

As ye have

therefore

We are well equipped to walk in the blessings of God. Therefore, after we’ve had time to grow received Christ

spiritually, God usually doesn’t move on our Jesus the Lord,

behalf with sovereign miracles or manifesta-so walk ye in tions of the Holy Spirit that require no faith on him: Rooted and

our part.

built up in him,

You see, God holds us responsible to learn how and stablished

to believe His Word. He expects us to switch in the faith,

over from the natural realm and begin operat-as ye have ing in the faith realm.

been taught,

When I started to hear and apply the truth of abounding

G o d ’s Wo rd, it changed my life. I start e d therein with

receiving answers to my prayers according to my own faith.

thanksgiving.

You see, the Word sets our doctrines straight.

—Colossians

God won’t force His truth on us. But if we’re

2:6,7

willing to learn, He will show us how to rightly divide His Word. (2 Tim. 2:15.) His truth will set us straight and put us on a new course to victory.

C o n fe s s i o n

I spend time with my heavenly Father and grow up in Him.

I walk by faith, depending on Him to perform His Word in my life. It’s my privilege to walk by faith.

121

April
2 6

Initiating Your Miracle

How shall we

escape, if we

a

Sometimes people get healed out of the clear neglect so great

blue. It doesn’t look as if they did a thing to salvation; which at

receive their healing. They weren’t standing in the first began to

faith; they were just healed.

be spoken by the

I heard about one fellow who walked past a Lord, and was

church meeting and decided to go in and get a confirmed unto us

drink of water. Interestingly enough, he was drunk at the time. And even more interesting is by them that heard

the fact that as he left and walked down the him; God also

street, he suddenly realized he’d been healed.

bearing them

He returned to the meeting and was saved!

witness, both with

That man wasn’t believing for his healing. He signs and wonders,

wasn’t in faith, and he didn’t expect anything.

and with divers

He just got healed according to God’s own will and mercy.

miracles, and gifts

Yet, we can move over into the realm of faith to of the Holy Ghost,

receive answers any time we need them. When according to his

we exercise our faith in God’s Word, we release own will?

the same power and get the same results as when God moves sovereignly. We don’t have to —Hebrews 2:3,4

wait to see if God passes by with a miracle because “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor.

5:7). God expects us to use faith to initiate our own miracle.

Reach out by faith and take hold of whatever you need from God’s Word.

It belongs to you!

C o n fe s s i o n

My God is good to me and shows me in His Word how to receive the blessings He’s provided. I receive by faith the healing I desire.

122

April
27

God Is True to His Word

a

God is not a

man, that he

When we talk about God’s sovereignty, we should lie;

aren’t talking about the religious world’s view-point of sovereignty. Religious people who don’t neither the son

know the Word say, “God is a sovereign God. If of man, that he

He wants you healed, you’ll get healed. If He should repent.

wants you sick, you’ll stay sick. If He wants you —Numbers 23:19

prosperous, He’ll take care of you financially.

But God may want you sick and bro k e .

Whatever will be, will be.”

A c c o rding to that way of thinking, it wouldn’t do you any good to believe G o d ’s Wo rd because you’ll still get whatever God wants you to have. That faulty religious thinking believes God will take your money, steal your health, and knock you in the head three or four times a week to keep you in line. They believe that’s just the kind of mood God is in most of the time.

Yet one thing is certain—religious people who think that way don’t know God or His Word.

No, when we say God does something sovereignly, we simply mean God does something according to His Word at His own discretion. He initiates it. But God cannot sovereignly do anything outside His Word because He’s bound Himself to His Word.

Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 say God cannot lie or fail to keep His Word.

So just as surely as you can trust that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), you can believe “by [Jesus’] stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s says I’m healed by the stripes Jesus bore. That healing word is truth in my life because I believe it and act upon it.

123

April
2 8

Follow the Holy Ghost

And I, brethren,

when I came to

a

Sometimes God wants to demonstrate His love you, came not with

and compassion for us. He knows we’ll retain excellency of

and understand a greater percentage of what speech or of

we both hear and see.

wisdom, declaring

God will also go out of His way to demonstrate unto you the

to us that the Holy Ghost flows in many differ-testimony of God.

ent directions. You see, in John 7:37-38, Jesus likens the Holy Spirit to a river of living water: And my speech

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and and my preaching

drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture was not with

hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

enticing words of

Just as no two rivers are alike, neither are any man’s wisdom, but

two flows of the Holy Spirit alike. Sometimes in demonstration

God will almost give us a spiritual “jerk,”

of the Spirit and of

demonstrating His power in a new way just to power: that your

show us that He is a God of variety. We need faith should not

e v e ry one of His diff e rent directions because we a re cre a t u res of habit who get into ruts easily.

stand in the

Someone once said, “A rut is nothing but a wisdom of men,

grave with both ends kicked out of it.” We want but in the power

to make sure we don’t get into a rut. The best of God.

way to do that is to follow the Holy Ghost, because He’s never in a rut.

—1 Corinthians

2:1,4,5

C o n fe s s i o n

My God moves in many different ways as He leads me into healing and whatever else I need. I stay sensitive to His Spirit so that wherever He leads, I follow His flow.

124

April
29

Build Your Spiritual Muscles

a

Nay, in all these

things we are

Though you’re not of this world, you still live in more than

this world so tests, trials, and temptations are bound to come your way.

conquerors

Many people think, Tests and trials come to through him

make me strong. Some have even written songs that loved us.

with that message. These folks may even have —Romans 8:37

been taught that sickness and disease come to teach them lessons or make them more pious.

But the truth is, sickness, tests, trials, and temptations will never make you strong. If they did, you’d be Mr. or Mrs. Universe by now. No, it’s what you do with tests and trials that makes the difference.

Think in terms of weight lifting. A weight lifter wants to develop his muscles, but he’ll never reach that goal unless he actually lifts weights.

He certainly won’t turn into Charles Atlas sitting in an easy chair reading weight lifting books and thinking, I’m strong! I’m strong! And when he lies on the workout bench, the 100-pound weight lying across his chest won’t help his muscles gain strength unless he lifts up the weight and starts pushing it away.

The same is true with tests and trials. You won’t be strong in faith unless you exercise your spiritual muscles. Every time you push problems away in Jesus’ name you gain strength. Strong faith only comes by exercising the faith you have against something that’s contrary to God’s Word.

So when problems arise we can say, “Glory to God, here’s one more opportunity to develop my faith muscles and prove God’s Word works!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I develop faith muscles by using God’s Word when problems come against me. The Word works for me because I work the Word.

125

April
3 0

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

My brethren, count

it all joy when ye

a

Notice James didn’t say, “Let those tests and fall into divers

trials have their perfect work.” He said, “Let temptations;

patience have her perfect work….”

knowing this, that

You see, tests and trials don’t perfect you. It’s the trying of your

what you do with them that counts. You’re not faith worketh

perfected because a bunch of problems come patience. But let

along. You’re perfected because you stick with the Word of God in the midst of those problems patience have her

and patiently endure. That’s when patience has perfect work, that

its perfect work.

ye may be perfect

Patience is consistent endurance. When you and entire,

walk in patience, you aren’t up and down like a wanting nothing.

yo-yo. You base everything on God’s Word. You don’t get up in the morning and ask yourself —James 1:2-4

how you feel. You get up in the morning and tell yourself how you feel according to God’s Word.

I’ve seen people grow as a result of using their faith against tests and trials. And I’ve seen other people go under when they faced the same tests and trials. It’s what people do with their problems that makes the diff e rence.

Faith thrives in the midst of a trial. That doesn’t mean we enjoy the trial, but we don’t shrink from it either. We just dig our heels in and say, “I don’t care what it looks like, seems like, sounds like, or feels like. I believe what God’s Word says.”

C o n fe s s i o n

My faith thrives in a trial. When symptoms come, I tell my body, “You’re healed because Jesus bore your sickness.” After all, I’m not the sick trying to get healed. I’m the healed staying well.

126

M
ay
1

Conquer Sickness With Your Faith

a

Now thanks be

unto God, which

A few years back my father decided he didn’t always causeth

want to get “soft,” so he started lifting weights.

As Dad worked out every morning, he became us to triumph in

stronger and stronger. He’d say, “I don’t like Christ, and

lifting these weights, but I’m going to conquer maketh manifest

them. If it takes the rest of my life, I’m going to the savour of his

conquer them.”

knowledge by us

It’s the same way with tests and trials. You can in every place.

either let them plant themselves in your life —2 Corinthians

and put pressure on you, or you can use your faith muscles to push those trials out of your

2:14

life. You can decide, “Bless God, I’m going after those tests and trials, and I’m going to conquer them.”

I remember when it used to take me two weeks to get rid of a cold. But I didn’t sit back and say, “Well, I’m going to learn from this cold.” (I don’t know what you could learn from a cold anyway—except that you don’t want another one!) I kept using my faith muscles to push off those cold symptoms. After a while, the symptoms only lasted one week instead of two. Then they lasted three days instead of a week. Soon the cold symptoms just started falling off before they could attach to my body.

And the more you push off the enemy’s attacks—symptoms, tests, trials, temptations—the stronger your faith muscles will get and the quicker problems will leave.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word is full of truths that empower me to push off symptoms, tests, and trials that come my way. I walk in victory!

127

M
ay
2

Come Out of the Trial Stronger

Fight the good

fight of faith, lay

a

Someone once said to me, “I thought when a hold on eternal

person operated in faith, he wouldn’t have any life, whereunto

problems.” No, that’s what faith is for—to help thou art also

you overcome the enemy when he attacks you called, and hast

with problems.

professed a good

A man said to another minister, “I want you to profession before

pray I’ll never have any more trouble with the devil.”

many witnesses.

“Do you want me to pray you’ll die?” the minis-

—1 Timothy 6:12

ter answered.

You see, you can count on the enemy bringing tests and trials your way. He will try to steal from, kill, and destroy you. (John 10:10.) As long as we live down here, we’re going to have trouble with the devil.

He tries to stir up negative circumstances, symptoms, thoughts, imaginations, and trials. He does anything he can to discourage us and make us quit. I’m not preaching doom and gloom; I’m just saying we may as well face the fact that life on earth won’t be “a bed of roses.”

Nevertheless, we aren’t supposed to bury our heads in the sand or run in fear and cry, “Oh, God, what do I do now?”

No, when the devil comes to harrass us we need to get silly grins on our faces and say, “Glory to God! Here’s one more chance for me to flex my faith muscle. I’ll throw this problem back in the devil’s face with God’s Word and come out of this even stronger than I went in.”

C o n fe s s i o n

I always overcome with God’s Word. I won’t be discouraged, I won’t fear, I won’t quit. By faith, I come out of every test even stronger.

128

M
ay
3

God’s Kind of Life

a

The thief

cometh not, but

W h e re does sickness come from? I was taught for for to steal, and

years that sickness was sent from God to teach us and make us pious and more “Christ-like.”

to kill, and to

H o w e v e r, if we look in the Wo rd, we definitely destroy: I am

see that sickness comes from the enemy—not come that they

f rom God. Jesus certainly didn’t get Christ-like might have life,

t h rough sickness and disease, so I don’t know and that they

why we would either. Sickness is a satanic forc e .

might have

God called it a curse in Deuteronomy 28:59-61.

it more

In Luke 13:16, Jesus called it a bondage. And by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Peter called it abundantly.

satanic oppression in Acts 10:38.

—John 10:10

God doesn’t like sickness; He’s totally and completely against it. He has done, and is still doing, everything in His power to get healing and health to His children.

The devil is the one who steals, kills, and destroys. Sickness steals money, families, homes—it steals everything it can steal.

Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The word life in the Greek is “zoe,” and it refers to life as God has it.1 Jesus was saying, “I have come that you might have the life of God.”

Was God ever sick? No! Sickness doesn’t come from God; otherwise, Jesus would’ve included it in His “abundant life” package. No, Jesus didn’t come to bind us in chains of bondage. He came to set us free!

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus gives me abundant life—life as God has it. God doesn’t get sick, so I don’t allow sickness to stay in my body. Divine health belongs to me.

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Fill Your Mind With the Word

For this purpose

the Son of God

a

W h e re does sickness come from? We have to was manifested,

understand its source so we can can get rid of it.

that he might

L e t ’s look at the reason Jesus came to earth. First destroy the works

John 3:8 says He came “to destroy the works of of the devil.

the devil.” What are those works Jesus came to —1 John 3:8

d e s t roy? Sin, povert y, sickness, and disease.

I know people who are just beginning to walk by faith. But even though they are learning to believe and confess the truth of God’s Word, they still have that old, doubt-filled thought following them around: God may want me sick for a purpose. This sickness may be sent from God to teach me something.

But as long as you think that way, you won’t be healed. Your faith will never operate beyond your knowledge of God’s will. You have to know healing is God’s will before you can believe for it.

So feed your spirit on healing Scriptures that tell you God wants you healthy and whole. Fill your mind with the Word so those old, doubt-filled thoughts can’t even find their way back in.

Then steadfastly cling to God’s Word in faith, and it will bring healing and health to your whole body.

C o n fe s s i o n

It’s God’s will for me to be healed and live in health.

Sickness doesn’t come from God, and He doesn’t use sickness to teach me. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, so I live free of sickness and disease.

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Don’t Be Double-Minded

a

He that

wavereth is like

When disease attacks our bodies, everything in a wave of the

us wants to be free of it. It’s uncomfortable. It is “disease,” and we automatically want to get rid sea driven with

of it as quickly as we can.

the wind and

But if we think sickness is from God for any tossed. For let

reason—whether we think it’s commissioned by not that man

Him, sent by Him, or allowed by Him—we’re in think that he

t rouble. We become double-minded. One side of shall receive any

our mind thinks, I don’t want this. But the other thing of the

side thinks, If God wants me to have this sick-Lord. A double ness, it must be good for me so I should keep it.

minded man is

If sickness is a blessing from God, we should never be found fighting against it. We shouldn’t unstable in all

fight it with medical science, with prayer, with his ways.

the laying on of hands, or with anything else. If —James 1:6-8

our sickness is from God, we should keep it and pray for more for the rest of the family.

But sickness is not from God! And as God’s children, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we shouldn’t have any part of it.

So don’t be double-minded about it—refuse to accept sickness when it comes. If symptoms attack your body, attack those symptoms with the Word of God. You are God’s child, and you don’t have to keep one thing that doesn’t come from Him.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m single-minded in all my ways.

I know God’s will for me is healing and health.

Sickness has no place in me, and I refuse to let it stay.

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Does Sickness Come From God?

He sent his word,

and healed them,

a

If sickness or disease comes from God, how and delivered

does He give it to us? Does He reach out and them from their

touch us, giving it to us by His own hand?

destructions.

Jesus was the express image of God—the will of —Psalm 107:20

God in action. He said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” (John 14:9.) So if it were true that God gave us sickness by His hand, then Jesus would have given sickness to people instead of taking it away from them.

But when Jesus touched people, they were healed. He lived on this earth thirty-three-and-a-half years and ministered for three-and-a-half of those years. In all that time, Jesus never gave sickness or disease to anyone. He acted out the will of God, taking sickness away from people.

Well, then, does God give us sickness by His Word? Does He speak it on us? No, Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them.” So God doesn’t put sickness on us with His hands nor by His Word.

W h e re would God get sickness to put on us anyway? He doesn’t have sickness in heaven. And when sickness entered this earth through the fall of man, Jesus paid the price to send it to the depths of hell, where it belongs.

So there’s only one conclusion to make: God doesn’t have any sickness to give us because sickness and disease are not from God.

C o n fe s s i o n

Father, let Your will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Since there’s no sickness in heaven, there should be no sickness in me. I receive God’s healing power at work in my body now in Jesus’ name.

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The God Who Never Changes

a

Do not err, my

beloved brethren.

Every good and perfect gift comes from God Every good gift

who never changes. So when we find out something is good and perfect, we know it comes and every perfect

from God. And if it isn’t good or perfect, we gift is from above,

know it doesn’t come from above.

and cometh down

What about sickness? Well, if sickness were from the Father of

from God, it would have to be good. But we know sickness isn’t good because it steals, kills, lights, with whom

and destroys. Clearly, sickness doesn’t come is no variableness,

from God.

neither shadow

And it never has. In fact, I like the last part of of turning.

verse 17, where James describes God as “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, —James 1:16,17

neither shadow of turning.” God never changes. This verse says He doesn’t even have a shadow of turning. There’s not even a trace of change in God.

Jesus doesn’t change either. He’s the express image of the Father, and He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8.) And Acts 10:38

says Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

God didn’t send sickness and disease to the earth in the beginning; He didn’t send sickness and disease during Jesus’ earthly walk, and He doesn’t send sickness and disease to the earth today. Rather, God delivered us from sickness and disease when He sent the living Word, Jesus Christ.

C o n fe s s i o n

God never changes. He sent His Word to heal His people under the old covenant, and He sends His Word to heal me today.

By faith, God’s healing power is at work in me.

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Was Sickness Part of God’s Creation?

And God saw

every thing that he

a

God finished Creation and said, “That’s it. I’m had made, and,

through!” His finished creation displayed His behold, it was very

perfect will for Adam and all his descendants.

good. And the

That was the way He wanted everything to be.

evening and the

But what was not in God’s creation on that sixth morning were

day? Well, you’ll never find a Scripture that the sixth day.

says, “On such-and-such a day, God created sickness and disease.” You’ll never read, “And —Genesis 1:31

God said, ‘Let there be cancer! Let there be pneumonia!’” No, God looked at His creation, and “behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). That means sickness and disease were absent in the original creation.

When Adam sinned and fell spiritually in the Garden of Eden, he chose a new master to serve. And at that moment, Satan became the god of this world with a long-term lease on creation.

When Satan entered into his new domain, he brought all his goods with him—sickness, fear, poverty, depression, oppression, death, and everything else that’s evil. Someone once said, “Sickness is the foul offspring of its father, Satan, and its mother, sin.”

You don’t find sickness and disease anywhere in the Bible until after Satan became the god of this world. Then you find sickness running rampant throughout the earth.

Satan is the author of sickness, but through the redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross, life can become “very good” once again.

C o n fe s s i o n

Sickness doesn’t come from God. Satan is the father of all diseases, but I’ve been delivered from his kingdom. I walk in health and healing because my Father wants me well.

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Healing Is Good

a

God anointed

Jesus of

The Bible doesn’t say, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with

Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power: who went about making people sick everywhere He the Holy Ghost

went.” No, Jesus went about doing good. What and with power:

“good” did Jesus do? Acts 10:38 says He “went who went about

about doing good, and healing.” Whom did He doing good, and

heal? Those who were oppressed.

healing all that

Who oppressed them? The devil. That’s were oppressed

plain. God tells us plain and simple in this of the devil; for

S c r i p t u re where sickness and disease come God was

f rom—the devil.

with him.

God also tells us what “good” is: Good is h e a l i n g . Sickness isn’t good, because Jesus —Acts 10:38

healed those who were sick and oppressed of the devil. “Good” is setting people free from sickness and disease.

Sickness isn’t a blessing from God. It’s a curse, a satanic oppression, and a bondage the enemy uses to slow us down or stop us from preaching the Gospel to all the world.

God wants us well so we can fulfill the Great Commission. He wants us not only to preach the Gospel, but also to lay hands on the sick to set them free. (Mark 16:18.) Why? Because sickness is bad, and healing is g o o d !

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father says healing is good. He willingly heals me.

And as I lay hands on the sick, God’s power causes them to recover.

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Rightly Discerning Jesus’ Body

But let a man

examine himself,

a

Writing to the believers at the Corinthian and so let him eat of

church, Paul says, “Many in the church are that bread, and

weak, sickly, and sleeping.”

drink of that cup.

What does Paul mean? Some definitions will help us understand. The word w e a k i n d i c a t e s For he that eateth

being without strength, infirmed, feeble, impo-and drinketh tent, diseased, and sick. A s i c k l y person is one unworthily, eateth

whose strength has failed through disease. Paul is talking about physical problems in this and drinketh

S c r i p t u re. And when he refers to those who are damnation to

s l e e p i n g , h e ’s talking about the “sleep” of death.

himself, not

So Paul is actually saying in this verse, “For this discerning the Lord’s

reason, many are physically sick and even dying early.”

body. For this cause

What is the reason Paul refers to? In discussing many are weak and

the Lord ’s Supper in verse 29, he says, “For he sickly among you,

that eateth and drinketh unwort h i l y, eateth and and many sleep.

drinketh damnation to himself, not discern i n g the Lord ’s body.” We y m o u t h ’s translation says, —1 Corinthians

“…if he fails to estimate the body right.” Wu e s t ’s

11:28-30

translation says, “...if he does not properly evaluate the body.” The Living Bible puts it this way: “...not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means.” Finally, T h e M o d e rn Language Bible says, “...without due appreciation of the body.”

This is the only place in the Bible where Paul says, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Appare n t l y, it’s important to understand how to rightly discern, evaluate, and appreciate the body.

C o n fe s s i o n

I rightly discern Jesus’ body, broken for my physical healing.

I appreciate and appropriate the healing Jesus purchased for me.

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Don’t Judge Others

a

For he that

eateth and

One way we can look at Paul’s warning about drinketh

“not discerning the Lord’s body” is as it refers to our discernment of others in the body of Christ.

unworthily, eateth

Some Christians say, “We have more revelation and drinketh

than anyone else in the body of Christ. If you damnation to

aren’t one of us, you don’t have anything.”

himself, not

These people want to criticize others and put discerning the

themselves on a level above everyone else.

Lord’s body. For

That’s a bad position to be in. A church like that is not rightly discerning the body of Christ and this cause many

will be full of sick people who don’t receive are weak and

their healing.

sickly among you,

Those of us who have received the fullness of and many sleep.

the Holy Spirit have to be careful about this —1 Corinthians

kind of prideful attitude. We aren’t on a level above anyone else. We only have more respon-

11:29,30

sibility. You see, when we understand what God’s Word says about healing, faith, and confession, the way is opened for us to receive more benefits.

We need to walk in love toward fellow Christians who haven’t received as much revelation of the Word as we have. When we look down on other believers, we do not rightly discern the body of Christ. Judging others will always give us trouble because everyone in the body of Christ is important.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus’ blood was shed and His body was broken for all people.

Each person is important to the Lord. I will not judge another in the body of Christ. I will pray and intercede so we all may be healed.

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Understand Why Jesus’ Body Was Broken For he that eateth

and drinketh

a

Let’s look at another meaning of the phrase unworthily, eateth

“not

discerning

the

Lord ’s

body.”

In

and drinketh

Communion, the cup is the symbol of Jesus’

damnation to

blood, which was shed for our sins. We’ve himself, not

preached about the blood of Jesus for years, and most people have a revelation of it.

discerning the

Yet a person who takes Communion without Lord’s body. For

understanding the purpose of the blood may this cause many

think, I don’t know why Jesus went to the Cro s s are weak and

or believe His blood has anything to do with me.

sickly among you,

What blessings will such a person receive?

and many sleep.

Someone who doesn’t understand or believe in the blood of Jesus can’t partake of salvation. He —1 Corinthians

is walking in spiritual death because he doesn’t

11:29,30

know why Jesus shed His blood.

In the same way, the Communion bread is the symbol of Jesus’ body, which was broken for us.

But many Christians haven’t been taught the body of Jesus was broken for their physical health. Therefore, they remain sick.

A person can partake of the symbol of Jesus’ broken body in Communion for years and still say, “I don’t believe healing is for today.” If people don’t understand, believe, and act on the truth that Jesus’ body was broken for their physical healing, then Jesus’ redemptive work won’t help them.

Don’t make that mistake. Believe Jesus’ body was broken for you, and enjoy walking in good health.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus’ body was broken for my physical healing just as surely as His blood was shed for my sins.

I rightly discern His body, so I walk in divine health.

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Choose God’s Higher Thoughts

a

For my thoughts

are not your

People say, “I believe God wants to use sickness to teach me.” But is that in the Bible?

thoughts, neither

All of us have probably held theories and beliefs are your ways

at one time that messed up our thinking.

my ways, saith

Perhaps Satan’s biggest lie is that sickness is the Lord. For as

from God. When we fall for that lie, we stop the heavens are

resisting the devil’s attacks on our bodies and open the door for him to strap sickness on us.

higher than the

Then we wonder why we can’t get rid of it.

earth, so are my

We might receive temporary relief from sick-ways higher than ness if people pray for us, but often the symp-your ways, and toms return. We won’t find permanent relief until we make sure the door giving the enemy my thoughts than

access is closed and locked. How do we lock the your thoughts.

door? By getting a strong revelation that —Isaiah 55:8,9

healing is God’s will.

You see, we open the door to sickness through wrong thinking. Wrong thinking produces wrong believing, and wrong believing produces wrong speaking. When all those factors work together, we experience only bad results.

When faced with symptoms we should immediately say, “The Bible is God talking to me. What does God think? What does the Bible say?”

We should think God’s thoughts because they’re higher than ours. (Isa.

55:9.) God wrote down His thoughts and ways for us in sixty-six books called the Bible, where He makes it clear healing is His will.

C o n fe s s i o n

I don’t allow the devil’s doubt and unbelief to keep me from receiving my healing. I choose God’s higher thoughts and ways that produce healing in me.

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Act Like the Word Is True

Giving thanks

unto the Father,

a

Why do people get sick? Well, we know why which hath made

people in the world get sick: Their father, the us meet to be

devil, gives sickness to them. But what about partakers of the

Christians? Our Father God doesn’t have any inheritance of the

sickness to give to us, and we don’t have to take it from the devil anymore. We’ve been deliev-saints in light: ered from darkness.

who hath

But because of a lack of knowledge, Christians delivered us from

often don’t realize sickness comes from the the power of

devil and don’t resist symptoms when they darkness, and

show up. Or they may think God has some purpose in the sickness so they keep it.

hath translated us

When these Christians start feeling symptoms, into the kingdom

they just say in resignation, “I guess I’m sick.”

of his dear Son.

They don’t know the enemy is trying to cause them problems and keep them from obeying —Colossians

God. They’re ignorant of the devil’s efforts to

1:12,13

hinder them from fulfilling the Gre a t Commission. Therefore, they don’t resist the devil. When symptoms come, they “sign for the package” and get sick.

Amazingly enough, another major reason many Christians are sick is that they haven’t obeyed James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

If you’re going to live in divine health as God intended, you must know sickness comes from the devil. When symptoms come, resist them in Jesus’ name. Then act like God’s Word is true—because it is.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m delivered from the power of darkness. I submit to God and resist the devil, and the devil has to go and take his symptoms with him.

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Be a Person of Your Word

a

Out of the

abundance of

You cannot separate yourself from your word, the heart the

for you are only as good as your word.

mouth speaketh.

I heard one minister say, “Sometimes a person’s faith doesn’t work because his word is no —Matthew 12:34

good.” After hearing this probably 100 times, I finally realized if our word isn’t any good, our faith will never work.

Sometimes people are n ’t used to believing their own words. If they don’t believe their words in certain natural areas of their lives, they’ll have a hard time believing their words when they’re standing in faith for something.

Faith is believing that what you say according to the Word will come to pass. Mark 11:23 says, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

If you’re going to be a person of faith whose faith works, you have to be a person of your word. Stick to your word. Keep your word. Honor your word. Watch over your word.

As you do, people will begin saying, “I’m telling you, if that person says something, you can just count on it coming to pass. You can count on him to back up his word.” When you gain a reputation like that, your faith will skyrocket.

C o n fe s s i o n

My words create God’s realities in my life. I watch my words carefully and speak only truth and life. As I walk in faith according to God’s Word, I shall have whatever I say.

So right now I say, by Jesus’ stripes, I’m healed!

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16

The Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda

Now there is at

Jerusalem by the

a

This account gives us a picture of God’s sover-sheep market a eign side. Five sheds full of people sat by that pool, which is

pool not knowing when the angel was coming called in the

or who would be healed. And afterw a rd, the re s t of the people would have to sit and wait for the Hebrew tongue

next time the angel came to trouble the water.

Bethesda, having

Let’s look at verses 5-9:

five porches. In

And a certain man was there, which had

these lay a great

an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie…he saith…Wilt thou be

multitude of

made whole?

impotent folk, of

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I blind, halt,

have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool….

withered, waiting

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy for the moving of

bed, and walk. And immediately the man

the water. For an

was made whole….

angel went down at

Obviously, the impotent man wasn’t healed on his own faith. And he wasn’t healed on Jesus’

a certain season

faith. Jesus never once said in the Bible, “My into the pool, and

faith made you whole.” If Jesus’ faith had troubled the water:

healed that man, He would’ve healed everyone else there too.

whosoever then first

The truth is, God sovereignly healed this man.

after the troubling

Why? I don’t know; that’s God’s business, but of the water stepped

He knows what He’s doing.

in was made whole

C o n fe s s i o n

of whatsoever

God heals sovereignly as He wills,

disease he had.

but He made a way for me to receive

healing by faith any time. I exercise

—John 5:2-4

that faith and receive healing now.

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Keep a Watch on Your Words

a

[Jesus] saith

unto him, Wilt

The Living Bible puts it this way: “When Jesus thou be made

saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked, ‘Would you like to get well?’”

whole? The

impotent man

“‘I can’t,’ the sick man said….”

answered him,

Just as we can locate this man’s faith by his Sir I have no

words, we can locate our faith by our words.

man.

You see, many of us have been taught a great deal about faith and confession (or saying what —John 5:6,7

the Word says) and can “talk a good talk.” It’s easy to keep a good confession when things are going well. But when no one is listening and the pressure is on, we may discover some adjustments we need to make.

When many of us first heard the teaching, “You can have what you say,”

we were dangerous. We’d say, “Don’t say that!” to people who had no idea what we were talking about. Hopefully we’ve learned better by now.

We don’t need to be “confession monitors” for other people; we can stay busy just checking up on ourselves.

When you get in a tight spot while standing in faith, you may speak words of doubt. Don’t let that put you under condemnation. Don’t say, “Oh, dear God, I thought I was in faith, but now I’ve completely blown it by speaking unbelief!” No, all isn’t lost. Just make the adjustment, and feed in the Word. In fact, get full of the Word, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34).

C o n fe s s i o n

My words control my life. I can have what I say, and I say I’m healed.

God’s Word in me drives out sickness and disease.

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18

Don’t Wait for the Water To Move

When Jesus saw

him lie, and knew

a

Notice Jesus went to this pool where a multi-that he had been tude of sick people gathered waiting for the now a long time

water to be troubled. The first person who in that case, he

stepped in would be healed, though everyone saith unto him,

else had to wait for the next visitation. And Wilt thou be

they’d wait and wait and wait….

made whole?

The situation was like a person who decides to stand in a field waiting for lightning to —John 5:6

strike. Maybe it will strike; maybe it won’t — no guarantees.

Unfortunately, many Christians are in that same state of wishful thinking. They’d like healing to hit them, but they haven’t done their part to take hold of it by faith.

“Wilt thou be made whole?” That’s a good question.

Some Christians would protest, “But if healing were for today, every o n e would be healed.” No, not everyone even wants healing. Some folks would rather stay sick. For example, Janet and I know a lady who’s been sick for t h i rty-five years, and she’s become accustomed to it. If some people were healed, they wouldn’t have anything to talk about or get any attention.

I don’t mean that unkindly, but that kind of situation is a reproach to the body of Christ. We ought to love people and give them the attention they need so they don’t have to be sick to receive it.

We also need to examine ourselves. Are we “waiting for the water to move”? Or are we doing our part to receive healing by faith?

C o n fe s s i o n

I don’t use sickness to get attention, and I don’t wait for the “water to move.” Healing is mine, and I receive it now by faith.

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Put Your Trust in Jesus, Not Man

a

And a certain man

was there, which

Jesus walked directly to the man and asked, “Is had an infirmity

it your will to be healed?”

thirty and eight

The man replied, “But I have no man….”

years. When Jesus

That was the man’s first problem—he looked saw him lie, and

to man. He was saying, “I’d like to be healed, knew that he had

but I’m too slow. I’ve been here too long. I d o n ’t have any friends. No one helps me, so I been now a long

c a n ’t be healed.”

time in that case,

Apparently, some of the sick around the pool he saith unto him,

were prosperous enough to hire help. When the Wilt thou be

water was troubled, the hired man would pick made whole?

up the sick person and run to put him in the The impotent man

pool. But evidently this crippled man didn’t answered him, Sir,

have any money.

I have no man,

We must not make the mistake this man did by keeping our eyes on lack. We have a man—the when the water is

Man Jesus—and in Him there is no lack. If we troubled, to put

focus on what we don’t have, we miss our me into the pool:

answer when it’s before us.

but while I am

When you look to man, you’ll always be disap-coming, another pointed. Some believers even go to a specific steppeth down

healing evangelist to heal them. But regardless before me.

of the anointing someone operates in, no man is a healer. Jesus alone is the Healer. Jesus is all —John 5:5-8

you need!

C o n fe s s i o n

I focus my spiritual eyes on Jesus who has no lack.

No man is my healer—Jesus is my Healer.

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20

When God Is Moving, Enter In

Now there is at

Jerusalem by the

a

Let’s talk about the Holy Ghost. This incident sheep market a

occurs, of course, under the old covenant, but pool, which is

moving waters are always a type of the flow of called in the

the Spirit of God—the move of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrew tongue

When sick people come into the flow of the Bethesda, having

Holy Ghost, that is the easiest time for them to five porches. In

be healed.

these lay a great

Many times as we endeavor to receive our multitude of

healing, we do all we know to do. We hear the impotent folk, of

Wo rd of God, act on the Wo rd, hold fast to our confession of faith, and stand fast. (Heb. 4:14; 10:23.) blind, halt,

withered, waiting

The best thing to do at that point is to get into the move of the Holy Ghost. Wherever God is for the moving of

moving, whether it’s in our prayer closets or in the water.

a church service, we must do everything we —John 5:2,3

can to enter in. It’s much easier to receive the manifestation of what we’re believing for when we’re in the flow of the Spirit.

You see, the Holy Ghost is the One who causes our answers to come.

H e ’s the One who confirms the Wo rd. I like what someone said: “When the Holy Ghost starts moving, your manifestation will catch up with your confession.”

C o n fe s s i o n

I know my Father wants me well, so I enter into the flow of His Spirit when He’s showing Himself strong.

I take every opportunity for the Holy Ghost to move in my life.

146

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2 1

Take God at His Word

a

And when Jesus was

entered into

The Roman centurion had great faith because Capernaum, there

he understood Jesus’ words had authority over came unto him a

sickness and disease. The centurion was willing centurion, beseeching

to believe the words of Jesus and act on them.

him, and saying,

Lord, my servant lieth

The centurion didn’t say, “Jesus, I need You to at home sick of the

come to my house.” He said, “Just speak the palsy, grievously

Word, Jesus, and I’ll take that Word and act on tormented.

it!” In verse 13, Jesus responded to the centu-And Jesus saith unto rion’s faith: “Go thy way; and as thou hast him, I will come and

believed, so be it done unto thee. And his heal him.

servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

The centurion

That’s what God expects us to do. He doesn’t answered and said,

expect us to wait for some special manifesta-Lord, I am not worthy that thou

tion, even though that may happen at times.

shouldest come under

God expects us to simply take Him at His Word, my roof: but speak the

believe we receive His promises, and boldly act word only, and my

on them in faith.

servant shall be

healed. For I am a

C o n fe s s i o n

man under

Jesus responds to faith. The servant

authority....

was healed because the centurion

When Jesus heard it,

believed the words Jesus spoke.

he marvelled, and

said to them that

I’m healed because I believe God’s

followed, Verily I say

healing promises are at work in me.

unto you, I have not

found so great faith,

no, not in Israel.

—Matthew 8:5-10

147

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22

You Can Do Something About the Devil

And when Jesus

was entered into

a

There’s a connection between understanding Capernaum, there

authority and having great faith. Sometimes a came unto him

b e l i e v e r’s faith doesn’t operate because he a centurion,

doesn’t understand his authority. When the beseeching him,

believer starts to receive from God, the devil steals from him, and he doesn’t realize he can and saying, Lord,

stop the devil in his tracks.

my servant lieth at

So we must develop an understanding of the home sick of the

authority God has given us. Authority is not our palsy, grievously

own power or strength. The best term to tormented.

explain authority is “delegated power.” You see, Jesus delegated authority to us: “Verily I say And Jesus saith

unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth unto him, I will

shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye come and heal him.

shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”

(Matt. 18:18). In other words, what we forbid is The centurion

forbidden, and what we allow is allowed.

answered and said,

Jesus is the Head of the Church. We’re His body Lord, I am not

on this earth with the right to use the authority vested in His name. The body has the same worthy that thou

authority as the Head.

shouldest come

God is waiting for us to give orders to the under my roof: but

enemy so He can legally enforce them. We’re speak the word only,

the ones with the authority to do something and my servant

about the devil.

shall be healed.

C o n fe s s i o n

For I am a man

Jesus has spoken healing to me through His under authority.

Wo rd, and I have authority to stop the devil fro m —Matthew 8:5-9

hindering me. Healing is mine in Jesus’ name.

148

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2 3

Jesus’ Will Is the Father’s Will

a

And when Jesus

was entered into

When the centurion asked Jesus to come heal Capernaum,

his servant, Jesus responded, “I will.” Jesus was saying, “My will is to heal him because I do My there came unto

Father’s will. And the Father’s will is to heal him a centurion,

everyone who allows Him to. Therefore, I will beseeching him,

come heal him.”

and saying,

Jesus didn’t know the centurion’s servant well, Lord, my

and He wasn’t even in the location of the servant lieth at

servant. But Jesus knew the will of the Father.

home sick of the

Then the centurion said, “You don’t need to palsy, grievously

come to my house, Lord; I’m not really worthy tormented.

of that. But if You will just speak the word, my servant will be healed.” Jesus commended the And Jesus saith

centurion for his faith and sent him home.

unto him, I will

When the centurion got home, he found his come and

servant healed and set free.

heal him.

Healing the servant was God’s will. Jesus had —Matthew 8:5-7

p robably never seen the centurion or the servant before. But Jesus knew the will of the Father—healing for all!

C o n fe s s i o n

Like the centurion,

I believe in the power and authority of Jesus’ words.

I know God’s will is for me to be healed and walk in health.

So I ask in faith for my healing, and I believe I receive my answer.

149

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ay
24

A Crippled Man Walks

And [throughout

Lycaonia] they

a

Paul and Barnabas were preaching the Gospel, preached the

the Good News, in the cities of Lycaonia. Good gospel. And there

news to a sinner is that he can be saved, good sat a certain man

news to a poor man is that his needs can be at Lystra, impotent

met, and good news to a sick man is that he can in his feet, being a

be healed.

cripple from his

As they preached in Lystra, a crippled man who had never walked sat in the crowd. Suddenly, mother’s womb,

something radically changed his condition.

who never had

What was it that changed the course of his life?

walked: the same

“The same heard Paul speak.” The man heard heard Paul speak:

the Gospel. Healing had to be part of the Gospel who stedfastly

Paul and Barnabas were preaching. How do we know? Because Romans 10:17 says faith cometh beholding him, and

by hearing and hearing the Wo rd of God.

perceiving that he

Therefore, the man had to hear on healing to had faith to be

have faith for healing. (Rom. 10:17.)

healed, said with a

Then, while he heard, Paul “stedfastly behold-loud voice, Stand ing him, and perceiving that he had faith to be upright on thy feet.

healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

And he leaped

A miracle happened that day, but the first step and walked.

he took that set a new course in his life was to —Acts 14:7-10

hear. He tapped into the connection between hearing and healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

Hearing God’s Word produces faith in me. Therefore, as I continually hear the Word, I walk in divine health, peace, and abundance.

150

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25

A Miracle Received Through Faith

a

And there they

preached the

That crippled man had never taken a step in his gospel. And there

life. Then suddenly, he was up leaping and praising God. How did that happen? He re c e i v e d sat a certain man

t h rough faith. Where did he get his faith? “The at Lystra,

same heard Paul speak.” What did Paul speak?

impotent in his

Verse 7 says, “And there they preached the feet, being a

gospel.” So the man put his faith in the Gospel cripple from his

message and received a miraculous healing.

mother’s womb,

You hear some people say, “Well, Brother, we who never had

d o n ’t preach healing around here; we just walked: the same

preach the Gospel.” That’s amazing. When Paul heard Paul speak:

preached the Gospel, people had faith to be healed. A person can’t preach the whole Gospel who stedfastly

without preaching healing.

beholding him,

Let me ask: Did Paul perceive that someday the and perceiving

man would get faith? No, Paul perceived the man that he had faith

had faith right then. The man hadn’t taken a step to be healed, said

yet, but he had faith to be healed. However, his with a loud voice,

faith didn’t work until he acted on it.

Stand upright on

Just as God healed this man, we can know for a thy feet. And he

fact it’s God’s will to heal e v e ry person e v e ry leaped and

time of e v e ry disease. We have God’s Wo rd on it.

walked.

C o n fe s s i o n

—Acts 14:7-10

I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word, and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!

151

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26

God Is Willing To Heal

And, behold, there

came a leper and

a

This leper is the only person in the New worshipped him,

Testament to question God’s will to heal. This saying, Lord, if thou

man is also the first in the four Gospels whom wilt, thou canst

Jesus heals. So the first thing God does through Jesus is to clear up the question: Is it God’s will make me clean.

to heal?

And Jesus put forth

A major obstacle between Christians and mira-his hand, and cles today is they know God is able to heal, but they don’t know if He’s willing. Many pray, touched him,

“Lord, heal this person, if it be Thy will.”

saying, I will; be

Under the Levitical law, a leper was unclean thou clean. And

and had to live in the wilderness away from civ-immediately his ilization. This particular leper, however, had leprosy was

apparently heard that Jesus was healing people and took risks to get well.

cleansed.

The leper fell before Jesus and said, “Lord, if —Matthew 8:2,3

it’s Your will, make me clean.” He came to Jesus desiring to be healed. But desire wasn’t enough. The leper didn’t receive anything until Jesus cleared up the question of His willingness.

One translation of verse 3 says, “Jesus stretched out his hand and placed it on the leper saying, ‘Of course I want to. Be clean!’” (PHILLIPS).

When Jesus answered the leper and said, “I will, I want to,” Jesus was giving that same answer to all mankind—including you. God is able and willing to heal you. He wants to!

C o n fe s s i o n

With two words, “I will,” Jesus showed me beyond a doubt that God’s will for me is divine health.

According to Your will, Lord, I accept my healing.

152

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ay
27

It’s God’s Will To Heal You

a

And there came a

leper to him,

The average Christian is in the same position as beseeching him,

this leper was. He believes God is able to heal, but he doesn’t know whether or not it’s God’s and kneeling

will to heal.

down to him, and

The leper knew the ability of Jesus. He came saying unto him, If

and said, “Lord, if You will, You can make me thou wilt, thou

clean.” I’ve heard the same thing from people canst make me

in prayer lines. They stand there praying, “Oh, clean.

Lord, I know You’re able to heal me.”

But knowing God is able isn’t enough; it’s just a And Jesus, moved

starting point. Knowing God’s ability is about 25

with compassion,

percent of the answer. The other 75 percent is put forth his hand,

knowing His will.

and touched him,

The one hindrance standing between the leper and saith unto

and his miracle was revealed in his statement: “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The him, I will; be thou

same is true for people all over the world. If you clean. And as soon

asked if they’re convinced it’s God’s will to heal as he had spoken,

them, they’d probably answer, “I sure hope so.”

immediately the

That’s strong hope—not faith.

leprosy departed

Faith always begins where God’s will is known.

from him, and he

“I know God heals some,” you may say. But only when you know it’s God’s will to heal you, do was cleansed.

you reach the beginning point of faith.

—Mark 1:40-42

C o n fe s s i o n

I know without a doubt it’s my Father’s will to heal me.

I have confident assurance that He desires my healing even more than I do. Healing is mine now!

153

M
ay
28

Taking the “If” Out of Healing

And Jesus put forth

his hand, and

a

What did Jesus do when this leper said, “I know touched him,

You’re able to heal me, Lord, but I don’t know if saying, I will; be

You’re willing”? Did Jesus say, “Now, Brother, thou clean. And

I’ll have to fast and pray first to see if it’s God’s immediately his

will to heal you”? No, Jesus answered the ques-leprosy was tion for all mankind right there. He turned to cleansed.

that man and said, “I will; be thou clean.”

In other words, Jesus was saying, “Why in the —Matthew 8:3

world would you doubt a thing like that? If I’m able, surely I’m willing.”

We shouldn’t have any question in our hearts about God’s will to heal.

Jesus certainly didn’t. He didn’t hesitate when the leper said to Him, “If You will.” Immediately Jesus turned to the man and said, “Of course, I will. That’s part of My commission. That’s part of the reason I came. Of course it’s My will for you to be whole.”

Jesus took the “if” right out of the healing issue. He didn’t have to beg, plead, or spend three days finding God’s will about healing. He just automatically said, “I will heal you.” Why? Because Jesus was the will of God in action.

Jesus didn’t say, “I heal on My own.” He said, “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10). Therefore, for Jesus to heal the leper, it had to be God’s will because it was the Father, dwelling inside Jesus, who did the work.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word has built an unshakable confidence in me that God wants me healthy. So I boldly say, “I am healed.”

And the Holy Spirit in me does the work.

154

M
ay
29

God’s Compassion To Heal

a

And Jesus, moved

with compassion,

“Moved with compassion,” Jesus touched the put forth his

leper. This may have been the first time in years that someone touched this man. No one hand, and

wanted to touch him. He wasn’t even supposed touched him.

to come near people.

—Mark 1:41

In Luke 17:12, ten lepers cried to Jesus from afar because it was illegal to approach him. If a leper came within 100 paces of a healthy person, he had to get out of the way and call out, “Unclean! Unclean!” Still, Jesus heard the lepers call to Him and told them to go show themselves to the priest, and they were healed as they went. (v. 14.)

Yet this one leper in Mark 1 came close to Jesus. Though he could’ve been stoned for being there, he had the tenacity of someone who wanted healing so badly he was willing to take a risk for it.

The leper fell down before Jesus and said, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” Jesus immediately settled that question. Moved with compassion, He put forth His hand and touched the leper, saying, “I will; be thou clean.”

You see, God’s ability shows His power, but His willingness shows His compassion. In the Wo rd, God’s compassion is magnified above His power. The Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), but it never says, “God is power.”

So trust your heavenly Father’s love for you. As you come to Him in faith, His compassion will flow freely to heal you and make you whole.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s love and compassion reach out to me and heal me of every sickness and disease. He’s able and willing to make me whole. So I am whole.

155

M
ay
30

“I Will”

And, behold, there

came a leper and

a

Jesus did two things when He was moved with worshipped him,

compassion: He touched the leper, and He said saying, Lord, if thou

something to him.

wilt, thou canst

I always thought the moment Jesus touched make me clean.

someone, that person was healed. But this man’s leprosy didn’t depart until Jesus said And Jesus put forth

something. Appare n t l y, His words were as his hand, and

important as His touch.

touched him, saying,

What did Jesus say to the leper? “Be thou clean.”

He gave the command for the leprosy to depart .

I will; be thou clean.

But He also said something else—the phrase And immediately

most Christians are looking for—“I will.”

his leprosy was

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “I won’t” or “Later.” He cleansed.

didn’t say, “This disease is good for you” or “You deserve this” or “God sent this leprosy to teach —Matthew 8:2,3

you something.”

Jesus didn’t have to fast and pray to find out God’s will. He just said, “I will.” He knew God’s will. He also knew one of His purposes for coming to earth was to destroy all the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), including sickness and disease. Part of Jesus’ commission was to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, and bring deliverance to all mankind.

God never told Jesus to just seek out a few here and there who needed healing. Jesus was sent to heal all. So when the leper said, “If You will,”

Jesus responded, “Of course I will! God’s will is healing for all mankind!”

C o n fe s s i o n

My Father sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil, including sickness. Sickness isn’t God’s plan for me.

Therefore, by faith I receive healing.

156

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ay
31

Step Out on the Word

a

And as Jesus

passed by, he

H e re was a man who had been blind from birt h .

saw a man

Jesus walked over to him, spit in the dirt, made clay of the spittle, smeared the clay on the man’s which was blind

eyes, and said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”

from his birth.

That man could’ve said, “What do You mean, [Jesus] spat on

‘go wash in the pool of Siloam’? Look, Jesus, I the ground, and

don’t need a bath—I need my sight! What is made clay of the

mud going to do? Everyone will laugh at me.

spittle, and he

I’m waiting for You to work a miracle here.”

anointed the eyes

Instead, He obeyed what Jesus told him to do of the blind man

with no feeling and no manifestation. Every with the clay,

symptom was still there; he was still blind. The only diff e rence was he now had mud in his eyes.

and said unto

him, Go, wash

But Jesus said, “Go,” and the man went. Jesus gave him an opportunity to walk by faith, and in the pool of

the blind man took off on the Word of God Siloam…He

alone. That was his faith in operation. He went, went his way

he washed, and he came again seeing. But he therefore, and

had to step out on the word Jesus spoke before washed, and

he saw results—and that’s how he got results.

came seeing.

Find out what God has said about your situation, and then step out on that Word. Let your —John 9:1,6,7

faith release God’s power in your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

I take God at His Word, even when I’m not able to see my answer. Jesus says I’m healed, so I am.

157

June
1

Jesus Is the Healer

And when they were

come to the multitude,

a

there came to him a

Some people have said, “I’ve been to every certain man, kneeling

preacher in the country, and I couldn’t get healed. It must not be God’s will to heal me.”

down to him, and

Yet the father in this account could’ve come to saying, Lord, have

that same conclusion. After all, he’d taken his mercy on my son: for

son to Jesus’ own personal trainees, but the boy he is lunatick, and sore

still wasn’t healed.

vexed: for ofttimes he

However, instead of concluding it wasn’t God’s falleth into the fire,

will to heal his son, the father took the boy to and oft into the water.

Jesus and explained, “I brought my son to Your And I brought him to

disciples, and they couldn’t heal him.”

thy disciples, and they

Jesus didn’t turn to the man and say, “Well, it could not cure him.

must not be the will of God then.” He said, Then Jesus answered

“Bring the boy to Me.” Jesus was the will of and said, O faithless

God in action, and He revealed God’s will by and perverse

setting him free. At that moment, Jesus was generation, how long

also revealing God’s willingness to heal you and shall I be with you?

me today.

how long shall I suffer

Are you ready to go free?

you? bring him hither

to me. And Jesus

C o n fe s s i o n

rebuked the devil; and

Jesus is the will of God in action, and He’s he departed out of

revealed God’s will to me. I know God wants him: and the child

me free from sickness. Thank You, Father, was cured from that

for Your healing power at work in me.

very hour.

—Matthew 17:14-18

158

June
2

Call On the Mercy of God

a

And one of the

multitude

In this passage a man brought his son to Jesus’

answered and

disciples asking them to deliver his son from s e i z u res. After the disciples’ unsuccessful said, Master, I

attempt to help the boy, they took him to Jesus.

have brought

Then the father said to Jesus, “Your disciples unto thee my son,

couldn’t do anything. If You can do anything, which hath a

have compassion on us and help us. ”

dumb spirit; and

The man called on the compassion—or the wheresoever he

mercy—of God. In other words, He called on the very nature of God. God is the God of taketh him, he

mercy; He’s the God of compassion.

teareth him: and

In Matthew 20:30, two blind men cried out, he foameth, and

“Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”

gnasheth with his

The disciples and the people in the crowd tried teeth, and pineth

to quiet them down, but they kept crying, “Have away: and I spake

mercy on us, O Lord….”

Jesus didn’t say, “Do you want your healing?” He to thy disciples

just asked, “What would you have Me do?” Yo u that they should

see, the blind men in Matthew 20 and the father cast him out; and

in Mark 9 called on God’s nature. So Jesus they could not.

responded, “I’m at your disposal. Whatever you need is yours because you’ve called on the But if thou canst

n a t u re of God. I’m here to meet your needs.”

do any thing,

And He’s ready to meet your needs as well.

have compassion

on us, and

C o n fe s s i o n

help us.

My God is full of mercy and compassion.

I call upon His compassion and

—Mark 9:17,18,22

mercy and by faith receive my healing.

159

June
3

A Withered Hand Becomes Whole

And it came to pass also

on another sabbath, that

he entered into the

a

The scribes and Pharisees watched closely to see synagogue and taught:

whether Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. They and there was a man

wanted to accuse Jesus of breaking the law.

whose right hand was

withered. And the scribes

But Jesus was looking for a way to show the and Pharisees watched

goodness of God, the Lord of the Sabbath.

him, whether he would

Jesus called the man with the withered hand heal on the sabbath day;

f o rw a rd saying, “Stretch forth thy hand.”

that they might find an

Immediately it was re s t o red, which made the accusation against him.

religious leaders angry.

But he knew their

You see, while the scribes and Pharisees associ-thoughts, and said to the man which had the

ated doing good with obeying man-made withered hand, Rise up,

Sabbath traditions, Jesus associated doing good and stand forth in the

with healing and saving life.

midst. And he arose and

Acts 10:38 says Jesus “went about doing stood forth. Then Jesus

good….” What good? “… healing all that were said unto them, I will ask

oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

you one thing; Is it lawful

on the sabbath days to do

Obviously, healing is good in God’s sight.

good, or to do evil? To

save life, or to destroy it?

C o n fe s s i o n

And looking round about

Jesus healed all who came to Him in faith, upon them all, he said

and He’s still the same today. It’s good in His unto the man, Stretch

sight when by faith I receive my healing.

forth thy hand. And he

did so: and his hand was

restored whole as the

other. And they were filled

with madness….

—Luke 6:6-11

160

June
4

The Making of a Miracle

a

And it came to

pass also on

“ S t retch forth your hand,” Jesus instructed the another sabbath,

man with the withered hand. When he did, a miracle occurred. However, that miracle didn’t that he entered

just fall on the man— the man’s faith produced it.

into the synagogue

How do we know that? Well, Jesus told a man and taught: and

with a withered hand to stretch it. If that man there was a man

had not been in faith he might have said, “What whose right hand

do You mean, stretch it forth? That’s why I’m was withered.

here—it doesn’t stretch! I’m waiting for You to heal me so I can stretch it!”

And looking round

But this man’s faith was in operation. You see, about upon them

real faith does what it can do and then attempts all, he said unto

to do what it cannot do.

the man, Stretch

So when Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand,” the man stretched it out. A person can’t stretch a forth thy hand.

hand that doesn’t stretch, so the man wouldn’t And he did so: and

even have tried to stretch his hand if he weren’t his hand was

expecting results.

restored whole as

Why did the man expect results? He was in the other.

faith. How did he get in faith? Verse 6 says Jesus “entered into the synagogue and taught.” The —Luke 6:6,10

man heard Jesus teach.

That’s the way most miracles happened in Jesus’ ministry. People heard Jesus teach, faith arose, and they were healed. And the same will be true for you.

C o n fe s s i o n

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. I hear the Word on healing, act on it, and confidently receive my healing.

161

June
5

Partaking of the Ministry of Jesus

And again he entered

into Capernaum after

some days; and it was

a

Notice verse 1 says, “And again he entered into noised that he was in

C a p e rnaum.” The word a g a i n indicates Jesus the house. And

must have been there before. Mark 1 mentions straightway many were

the first time He went to Capernaum many gathered together,

sick were healed, many devils were cast out, insomuch that there

and Jesus perf o rmed miracles all over the city.

was no room to receive

So when Jesus re t u rned, word got aro u n d .

them, no, not so much

Soon the house where He stayed was packed as about the door: and

to overf l o w i n g .

he preached the word

That’s the way it’s supposed to happen. As more unto them.

and more people are healed and set fre e And they come unto

through the preaching of the Word, churches him, bringing one sick

won’t have buildings big enough to hold all the of the palsy, which was

people. Word gets out when Jesus shows up!

borne of four. And when

they could not come

We ’ re about to see Jesus’ ministry go fort h nigh unto him for the

t h rough the Church as never before. Of press, they uncovered

course, Jesus had the Spirit without measure , the roof where he was:

w h e reas each believer has the anointing by and when they had

m e a s u re. But as the body of Christ rises up in broken it up, they let

u n i t y, that same powerful anointing is sweep-down the bed wherein ing the earth again.

the sick of the palsy lay.

When Jesus saw their

C o n fe s s i o n

faith, he said unto the

When Jesus preached, miracles happened.

sick of the palsy,

The Holy Spirit teaches me that same living Son, thy sins be

Word, which produces miracles in my life.

forgiven thee.

—Mark 2:1-5

162

June
6

Hearing and Miracles Go Hand in Hand

a

And again he

entered into

Jesus always gave the people something to Capernaum after

believe—He preached the Word to them. He didn’t tiptoe from town to town, healing a leper some days…and

here and a blind man there, and then teaching straightway many

on the Beatitudes for a while. There was a were gathered

method to what Jesus did.

About 70 percent of the time in His ministry, together, insomuch

Jesus either stated or implied that people were that there was no

healed on their own faith.

room to receive

Where did people get their faith? Did God lean them, no, not so

over the balcony of heaven and zap them with a faith gun? No, they obtained faith the same much as about the

way we do today: “Faith cometh by hearing, and door: and he

hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

preached the word

Matthew 4:23 says, “And Jesus went about all unto them.

Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and p reaching the gospel of the kingdom, and —Mark 2:1,2

healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Healing came after teaching and preaching.

Jesus had to teach the people the Word so they’d have faith to be healed.

When they heard the Word, faith arose; then as Jesus instructed them to act on their faith, they were healed.

So often today, people aren’t healed because they haven’t taken time to hear God’s Word. They want a miracle, but they don’t want to hear.

Don’t make that mistake! Diligently feed on God’s Word knowing that hearing and miracles go hand in hand.

C o n fe s s i o n

Faith comes when I hear God’s Word. I meditate upon the Word, and my faith grows to receive the miracle I need.

163

June
7

God’s Power To Heal

And it came to

pass on a certain

a

This verse says, “The power of the Lord was day, as he was

p resent to heal them.” Who is “ t h e m ” ? The teaching, that

Pharisees and doctors of the law. Was it God’s will there were

to heal them? Absolutely. God wouldn’t have sent His power if He hadn’t wanted them healed. God Pharisees and

i s n ’t confused, and He doesn’t waste His power.

doctors of the law

How many were healed? One man lowered sitting by, which

through the roof. But to the best of our knowl-were come out of edge, not one Pharisee or doctor of the law every town of

received healing.

Galilee, and

Yet Jesus said, “My meat is to do My Father’s Judaea, and

will.” (John 4:34.) So it must have been God’s will for Jesus to go to Capernaum and teach the Jerusalem: and the

Word. It also must have been God’s will for the power of the Lord

Pharisees and doctors of the law to be healed was present to

because God sent His power. When God’s heal them.

power is present, anyone who will receive by faith can be healed.

—Luke 5:17

But if that’s true, why are so many of us not healed? Our problem hasn’t been a lack of power, but a lack of knowledge. God gave us the power when He gave the Holy Spirit. We just haven’t known how to tap in.

So learn to receive from God. Get the revelation of His will, act on it, and hold fast to your confession that God’s power is working in you, effecting a healing and a cure.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s power is available to me through the Word. I tap into His power by believing, confessing, and acting on the Word.

164

June
8

Don’t Just Listen—Hear

a

And it came to

pass on a certain

The power of the Lord was present to heal day, as he was

the Pharisees and doctors of the law, but not one of them was healed. The Bible says Jesus teaching, that

was teaching, but how many present were there were

actually hearing?

Pharisees and

Someone may say, “Well, all of them must have doctors of the law

been hearing; they were sitting right there in the same room with Jesus.”

sitting by, which

Not necessarily so! Did you know you can be were come out of

listening without hearing? I know that from every town of

experience. I’ve been in numerous conversa-Galilee, and tions with my wife, Janet, where she suddenly Judea, and

stopped talking and said, “Mark, you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”

Jerusalem: and

“I’ve been listening!” I always protest. But then the power of the

I think, Have I really been listening? Although I Lord was present

can remember what Janet said five minutes to heal them.

earlier, my mind has been on something else.

I’ve been listening; I know she’s been talking, —Luke 5:17

but I didn’t hear what she said. So yes, it’s possible to listen and still not hear a thing.

Yet the Bible never said a word about the scribes, Pharisees, and doctors of the law hearing. In fact, those religious leaders weren’t listening so faith could grow in their hearts; they were listening to accuse Jesus.

Despite their wrong reason, God still sent His power to heal them. All they had to do was receive by faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

I don’t just listen; I hear the Word of God concerning healing.

Then faith rises up in my heart to receive, and I’m healed.

165

June
9

Get Tired of Being Sick

And they come

unto him, bringing

a

This man who had palsy, or paralysis, found four one sick of the

friends to pick him up and carry him to Jesus.

palsy, which was

But notice the way verse 3 is worded: “And they borne of four.

come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy. ”

—Mark 2:3

The man was sick of the palsy—sick with it and sick of it. He was tired of the whole mess.

I don’t blame him. That’s actually a good state of mind to be in. People will go after their healing when they’re sick of being sick. They’ve had it; they’re finished with it; they’re tired of being sick. No more.

Janet and I were in a service where a man greatly used of God in the gifts of the Spirit was ministering in a healing line. At one point, he called a woman to the front and told her, “The Spirit of God is showing me right now exactly what is wrong with you.” Then he proceeded to tell her exactly what her problem was.

The woman replied, “No, that’s not it—and beside, I can live with it!” She probably will, too, bless her heart. She wasn’t sick of being sick yet.

But this man in Mark 2 was. He was sick and tired of the palsy. So when Jesus spoke out his miracle, he was ready to receive. (vv. 11,12.) Things happen when we get tired of being overrun by the devil. That’s when we jump out in faith and refuse to give up until we receive the miracle we need.

C o n fe s s i o n

I refuse to put up with sickness or pain in my body because God’s Word is medicine to my flesh.

166

June
1 0

Determined Faith

a

And they come unto

him, bringing

During Jesus’ first visit to Capernaum (Mark one sick of the

1:21-34) the entire city gathered around the palsy…borne of

house where He stayed, and Jesus healed and delivered many.

four. And when they

This time the place filled up again, but with a could not come nigh

crowd of religious leaders who didn’t come for unto him for the

miracles. They came to catch Jesus saying press, they

something wrong so they could accuse Him.

uncovered the roof

They resisted everything He said.

where he was: and

So the first time Jesus visited Capern a u m , when they had

people came to be healed. The second time, broken it up, they

many came to stop folks from being healed.

let down the bed

Sometimes doubt and unbelief are so strong in a place it’s difficult for anyone to receive from wherein the sick of

God. That was the situation here. God’s power the palsy lay.

was present in the midst of a room packed with When Jesus saw

people, but there was so much unbelief no one their faith, he said

was receiving healing.

unto the sick of the

What did Jesus do? Luke 5:17 tells us Jesus continued teaching. That was always His solution palsy, Son, thy sins

to unbelief. Suddenly, four men came carrying be forgiven thee.

a stretcher. The place was so full of people not —Mark 2:3-5

getting healed the one who wanted healing couldn’t squeeze in. So the sick man’s determined friends tore off the roof of the house and lowered the man to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He healed him on the spot.

C o n fe s s i o n

Those who won’t receive from God won’t stop me from receiving.

I will enjoy salvation, healing, and every other blessing God’s provided.

167

June
1 1

Bring Them to Jesus

And they come

unto him, bringing

a

I can’t prove this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one sick of the

those four men were among those healed the palsy, which was

last time Jesus was in town. They seemed so borne of four. And

convinced if they got their friend to Jesus he’d when they could

be healed.

not come nigh

They were so convinced, they took the roof unto him for the

apart to get the paralyzed man before Jesus.

press, they

And they didn’t say, “Lord, heal him, if it be Thy uncovered the roof

will.” No, these four men were sure Jesus would heal their friend.

where he was: and

Matthew 8:16 talks about others who brought the when they had

sick to Jesus: “When the even was come, t h e y broken it up, they

b rought unto him many that were possessed let down the bed

with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his wherein the sick of

w o rd, and healed all that were sick.” That the palsy lay.

phrase “they brought unto him” is used several times in the Gospels. (Matt. 9:32; Mark 1:32.) —Mark 2:3,4

Ever wonder who “they” were? Did Jesus have healing teams? No, “they” are people who find folks in need and bring them to Jesus. The truth is, “they” are the body of believers! People say, “What if I invite someone to church, and God doesn’t do anything spectacular?” Yes, but what if He does? Either way, people we bring to church will still hear the Word.

Fulfill your part of “they” and bring folks who need miracles to Jesus.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ll be a “they”! I’ve experienced the healing power of Jesus, and I know without a doubt when I bring others to Him, they’ll be healed.

168

June
1 2

Faith Won’t Quit

a

And they come

unto him,

This passage illustrates one of the differences bringing one

between faith and hope. Four men carried this man to where Jesus was, but the building was sick of the palsy,

so full they couldn’t get in.

which was borne

Now, hope would’ve said, “Well, we tried, but of four. And

we couldn’t get our friend to Jesus. We might as when they could

well go home.” Hope will go just so far and quit.

not come nigh

It says, “I tried that faith business, but it didn’t unto him for the

work.” Then hope throws in the towel.

press, they

But faith won’t quit! It has tenacity. Faith digs in uncovered the

its heels and says, “I know whom I have roof where he

believed, and am persuaded that he is able to was: and when

keep that which I have committed unto him they had broken

against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). It says, “Healing belongs to me; I won’t go without it!”

it up, they let

down the bed

The four men were certainly in faith. They tore a hole in the roof big enough to lower their wherein the sick

friend on a stre t c h e r. Up till then, Jesus hadn’t of the palsy lay.

yet seen a spark of faith. But now He was seeing When Jesus saw

faith come through the roof and healed the man.

their faith, he

No one likes tests and trials, but faith thrives on said unto the

them. Our heads may give us trouble in hard sick of the palsy,

times. But if we’re really in faith, we won’t quit.

Son, thy sins be

C o n fe s s i o n

forgiven thee.

Jesus paid for my healing, and I have it by —Mark 2:3-5

faith regardless of feelings or circumstances.

169

June
1 3

Forgiveness and Healing—A Package Deal When Jesus saw

their faith, he said

a

The paralyzed man needed to be healed, but unto the sick of the

Jesus didn’t say, “Get up and walk.” Instead, He palsy, Son, thy sins

told the man his sins were forgiven. That pre-be forgiven thee.

sented a problem to the religious leaders sitting there in that house. They didn’t believe that But there were

Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, so they certain of the

didn’t believe He could forgive sins.

scribes sitting

But Jesus was proving something to us through there, and

this incident. He was making the point that for-reasoning in giveness and healing go hand in hand. When their hearts,

we receive one, the other belongs to us as well.

Why doth this

Mark 2:8 says, “Jesus perceived in his spirit that man thus speak

they so reasoned within themselves.” Then blasphemies? who

Jesus asked the religious leaders, “Which is can forgive sins

easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

but God only?

That didn’t make sense to me for a long time.

—Mark 2:5-7

Then I saw it. It’s so simple. Jesus was saying, “It doesn’t matter which one I say. If I say, ‘Get up and walk’ that means you’re forgiven. If I say, ‘You’re forgiven,’ that means ‘Get up and walk.’ The two always go together. Once you have one, the other automatically belongs to you. It’s a package deal!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m forgiven! I’m healed! Healing belongs to me as surely as forgiveness does. Both are included in my covenant with my heavenly Father.

170

June
14

Healing Comes With Forgiveness

a

When Jesus saw

their faith, he

Jesus wasn’t known for being a diplomat. He said unto the

wasn’t on the earth to please man; He was here to please God. He really didn’t care what men sick of the palsy,

thought, as long as He was pleasing to God. So, Son, thy sins be

knowing full well He’d be in trouble with the forgiven thee.

religious leaders, Jesus looked at the paralyzed —Mark 2:5

man and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

All through the Bible, forgiveness of sin and physical healing have always been a package deal. Jesus wasn’t trying to make those religious leaders angry; He was trying to prove a point to them. So Jesus gave them an illustrated sermon. He preached, and then He demonstrated His point. He said, “If I say you’re forgiven, it means you’re also healed.”

Back then, people thought Jesus could heal but not forgive sins. Today most people believe Jesus can forgive sins but not heal. The truth is, during Jesus’ ministry on earth He could do both, and today He can do both. He never turns anyone down for either forgiveness or healing.

Some people ask, “If I’m sick in my body, does that mean I’m not forgiven of my sins?” No, if you’ve made Jesus Lord of your life, then healing belongs to you whether you know it or not. So reach out and take hold of the blessing that’s rightfully yours.

C o n fe s s i o n

God has provided forgiveness for my sins and healing for my physical body. As surely as I know He wants me forgiven, I know He wants me well.

171

June
1 5

Healing—Proof of Jesus’ Power To Forgive Whether is it easier

to say to the sick of

a

How could Jesus prove to the religious leaders the palsy, Thy sins

that the paralyzed man’s sins were forgiven?

be forgiven thee;

Jesus knew exactly how to do it.

or to say, Arise,

Speaking to the whole group as well, Jesus told and take up thy

the paralyzed man, “Arise, and take up thy bed, bed, and walk?

and go thy way into thine house. And immedi-But that ye may ately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth know that the Son

before them all; insomuch that they were all of man hath

amazed” (vv. 11,12).

power on earth to

Jesus said, “I’ll prove to you I have power to forgive sins: I’ll tell this man to get up and walk, forgive sins….

and he will do it!” He did, and they were all —Mark 2:9,10

shocked.

If the religious leaders had been as knowledge-able about Scriptures as they were traditions, they would’ve jumped up and exclaimed, “Jesus is the Messiah! The One we’re looking for!”

Remember, these were the Old Testament scholars. They should’ve known that every time God gave them a picture of the Messiah’s cruci-fixion in the Old Testament, two things happened: People were forgiven of their sins and healed of their diseases.

How’s that help us? Well, if forgiveness and healing were a package deal under the old covenant, how much more do they belong to us today under a new and better covenant. (Heb. 8:6.) C o n fe s s i o n

If healing and forgiveness were connected under the old covenant, how much more they belong to me under a new and better covenant. I’m both healed and forgiven.

172

June
1 6

Two Inseparable Blessings

a

Whether is it

easier to say to

Forgiveness of sins in the new birth belongs to the sick of the

everyone. But we’ve tried to make healing a different matter, saying, “You never know whom palsy, Thy sins

God will heal.” We’ve taken what God put be forgiven thee;

together at the Cross and tried to make them or to say, Arise,

two different subjects.

and take up thy

Yet, forgiveness and healing cannot be taken bed, and walk?

a p a rt. They’re not two diff e rent subjects.

—Mark 2:9

Healing is nothing more than the new birth affecting the human body. Certainly, sin takes a toll on the body. You’ve probably looked at someone and thought, Boy, that person has lived a tough life. You were noticing the person’s sinful lifestyle had an adverse effect on his physical appearance.

Well, if sin can have an effect, righteousness can have an effect as well.

When the new birth, which takes place in the inner man, works its way to the outer man, the results are strength, healing, and health.

You may ask, “Why haven’t strength, healing, and health worked their way to my outer man before now?” Well, perhaps you haven’t been thinking, believing, and talking in line with God’s Word.

Yet whom does God want healed? Anyone who is forgiven. Who is forgiven? Anyone who has received Jesus as Savior. Healing belongs to every believer because forgiveness and healing always go hand in hand.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word says both forgiveness and healing are available to me through the new birth. I believe the Word, so I walk in the fullness of all its benefits.

173

June
1 7

A Gentile Woman’s Great Faith

A woman of Canaan…

cried…saying, Have

mercy on me, O Lord,

a

If anyone had a right to give up, this woman thou Son of David; my

did. Her daughter desperately needed to be set daughter is grievously

free of an evil spirit. But this woman was a vexed with a devil. But he

answered her not a word.

Syrophenician, a Gentile, and didn’t have a And his disciples came

covenant with God.

and besought him,

Even so, she came to Jesus crying out for help.

saying, Send her away;

At first, Jesus ignored her. Then He turned to for she crieth after us.

His disciples and said, “I’m not sent to help her But he answered and

anyway. I’m sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”

said, I am not sent but

unto the lost sheep of the

I used to read this Scripture passage and think, house of Israel.

Why did Jesus harass that poor woman? But Then came she and

Jesus wasn’t harassing her; He was locating her worshipped him, saying,

faith. Jesus knew if the woman had faith, she Lord, help me.

could get results even without a legal covenant But he answered and

with God.

said, It is not meet to take

the children’s bread, and

This woman did have real faith that held on.

to cast it to dogs.

And as a result, her daughter was made whole.

And she said, Truth, Lord:

yet the dogs eat of the

C o n fe s s i o n

crumbs which fall from

My covenant with God includes healing.

their masters’ table.

And I will never give up.

Then Jesus answered and

said unto her, O woman,

great is thy faith: be it

unto thee even as thou

wilt. And her daughter

was made whole from

that very hour.

—Matthew 15:22-28

174

June
1 8

What Is “Great Faith”?

a

Then Jesus

answered and

Jesus said the Syrophenician woman had gre a t faith. If she had faith under the old covenant, we said unto her, O

s u rely ought to have faith under the new covenant.

woman, great is

What made this woman’s faith great? She put so thy faith: be it

much confidence in Jesus’ Word that she came unto thee even

for healing for her daughter—and didn’t even as thou wilt. And

bring the daughter with her! In essence, she said to Jesus, “You just say the word, and my her daughter

daughter will be healed.”

was made whole

In Matthew 8:6-8, a Roman centurion displayed from that

that kind of great faith. He came to Jesus and very hour.

said, “My servant is at home sick.”

Jesus answered, “I will come and heal him.”

—Matthew 15:28

The centurion said, “No, I’m not worthy that You should come under my roof. If You’ll just speak the Word, my servant will be healed.”

Many people in the Bible operated in faith: the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19), the nobleman at Capernaum whose son was sick (John 4:46-53) and, of course, Abraham (Rom. 4:19). They all operated in faith, saying, “Whatever You say, Lord, we’ll believe it. We take You at Your Word. We don’t need goose bumps; we don’t need burning bushes. You say it, and we’ll go our way believing.”

Great faith always takes God at His Word. That’s why, in Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “When you pray, believe the answer has been granted to you, and you will have it.”

C o n fe s s i o n

The written Word is God’s word to me today. I believe, I receive, and I go my way praising and thanking God for my answer.

I have great faith because I take God at His word.

175

June
1 9

It Pays To Persevere

Then came she and

worshipped him,

a

Most of us would have given up, but not this saying, Lord,

woman. At first Jesus ignored her; then He said to help me.

His disciples, “I’m not even sent to help her.” Still, But he answered and

she worshipped Him and asked for help. This Gentile mother just wouldn’t leave Jesus alone.

said, It is not meet to

Then Jesus told her it wasn’t right to take the take the children’s

children’s bread and give it to dogs. Think bread, and to cast

about it. Jesus called her a dog. Most of us it to dogs.

would’ve gone home angry. But what she really said was, “Lord, I don’t need the whole loaf.

And she said, Truth,

Give that to the children, although most of Lord: yet the dogs

them won’t take it. Just give me a crumb. I eat of the crumbs

know what Your bread will do.”

which fall from their

You may have thought she responded that way because of her humble attitude. But it wasn’t a masters’ table.

matter of humility to her; she was talking about Then Jesus answered

how powerful Jesus’ bread is. She was saying, and said unto her,

“Call me anything You want to, but heal my daughter anyway.”

O woman, great is

Then Jesus told her, “With faith like that, you thy faith….

can have anything you want!” Jesus had taken —Matthew 15:25-28

this woman to the limits, and she’d passed the test. He knew her faith would turn His power loose, and it did.

It paid off for the woman to hang on—it paid off with her daughter’s healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

I hang on to God’s Word with tenacity until my healing manifests.

I won’t give up because God’s Word works.

176

June
2 0

Healing—The Children’s Bread

a

But [Jesus]

answered and

The Syrophenician woman wanted healing for said, It is not

her daughter. Jesus called healing “the childre n ’s b read.” If healing was the childre n ’s bread back meet to take the

then, it’s still the childre n ’s bread today.

children’s bread,

Who were the children back then? The lost and to cast it to

sheep of the house of Israel. Who are the chil-dogs.

dren today? These Scriptures tell us:

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our —Matthew 15:26

spirit, that we are the children of God.

Romans 8:16

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….

1 John 3:1

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12

We are the children! Healing is our bread! We have been grafted into God’s family through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Through the new birth, we are now new creatures in Christ, the children of God.

Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” We don’t have to beg for bread, because the bread belongs to us through Jesus Christ.

It’s part of our redemption, our covenant, our inheritance in Christ. God doesn’t want us begging for healing, because healing belongs to us.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus called healing the children’s bread. I qualify for that bread, for I’m a child of God. I don’t beg for healing; I receive it now because it already belongs to me.

177

June
2 1

“Be It Unto Thee as Thou Wilt”

Then Jesus

answered and said

a

Did Jesus say, “Oh, woman, great is thy faith. Be unto her, O

it unto thee as God wills”? No, He said, “Be it woman, great is

unto thee even as thou wilt. ” You see, this thy faith: be it unto

woman’s will was involved.

thee even as thou

Sometimes people don’t set their wills into action wilt. And her

as they try to get healed—they only hope and daughter was

pray their faith works. And if they don’t re c e i v e made whole from

their healing in a certain time frame, they let that very hour.

loose of their faith rather than holding fast.

But this woman set her will in motion, and she —Matthew 15:28

wouldn’t consider anything less than healing.

She came to Jesus and said, “My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” Jesus didn’t speak a word to her. She fell down and worshiped Him, and He said, “It’s not right to take the childre n ’s bread and cast it to dogs.”

But the Syrophenician woman said, “Well, even the dogs get the crumbs that fall off their masters’ tables.” She called Jesus her Master. And she wouldn’t let anything defeat her; she was going after healing for her daughter no matter what it took.

We need to realize that God has provided healing for us, and make a bold stance of faith. We need to set our wills in action by saying, “Healing is mine, and I’m not quitting until it’s manifested.” When we get that stubborn and tenacious in our faith, we’ll see results.

C o n fe s s i o n

A high price was paid for my healing, and I refuse to go without it. I know what is mine, and by faith I won’t quit until it manifests.

178

June
22

The Touch of Faith

a

And a certain

woman, which had

Jesus was walking through the crowd, and an issue of blood

everyone was pushing toward Him. Yet no one twelve years, and

was being healed—no miracles were occurring, had suffered many

and no power was flowing out of Him.

things of many

Suddenly Jesus felt power surge out of Him.

(v. 30.) He stopped and said, “Who touched My physicians, and had

clothes?” His disciples replied, “What do You spent all that she

mean? Everyone is touching You!” But Jesus had, and was

recognized a different touch. It wasn’t a physi-nothing bettered, but cal touch He sensed; it was the touch of faith.

rather grew worse,

Why was this woman the only one healed in the when she had heard

crowd? Jesus answered that question in verse of Jesus, came in the

34: “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith press behind, and

hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be touched his

whole of thy plague.”

garment. For she

The rest of the crowd apparently came wonder-said, If I may touch ing what would happen and thinking, Well, I’ll give this Jesus fellow a try. But this woman had but his clothes, I

come in faith. She knew exactly what would shall be whole.

happen when she touched the hem of Jesus’

And straightway the

garment—exactly what she had believed. She fountain of her

came believing—and, therefore, she received.

blood was dried up;

C o n fe s s i o n

and she felt in

her body that

I’m thoroughly convinced I can touch

she was healed

Jesus with my faith just as the woman with of that plague.

the issue of blood did. My faith draws that same healing power out of Him now,

—Mark 5:25-29

and healing is what I receive.

179

June
2 3

Our Faith Releases God’s Power

And Jesus,

immediately

a

Jesus didn’t walk up to this woman with the knowing in

issue of blood and say, “God has sovereignly himself that virtue

chosen to make you well.” No, the woman crept had gone out of

up behind Jesus in the crowd, touched the hem him, turned him

of His garment, and literally took hold of her about in the press,

healing. In fact, her great faith drew so much and said, Who

healing power out of Jesus that it stopped Him touched my

in His tracks.

clothes?

Jesus asked, “Who touched Me?” I’m sure everyone thought His question was a little strange And he said unto

because everyone was trying to touch Him. His her, Daughter, thy

disciples exclaimed, “The multitude is thro n g i n g faith hath made

You! How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

thee whole; go in

Then Jesus looked around to find the person peace, and be

who had touched Him in faith. The woman whole of thy

returned to Him, trembling with fear, and told plague.

Him what had happened to her. Jesus didn’t rebuke her; instead, He praised her faith.

—Mark 5:30,34

You see, the woman’s faith released Jesus’ power.

And if faith released His power 2000 years ago, our faith can still release His power today.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s power heals all who come to Him in faith.

My faith releases His healing power in my life.

My faith and His power make me whole.

180

June
2 4

You Can Believe for Your Miracle

a

And he said

unto her,

If this woman’s faith made her whole, our faith Daughter, thy

can make us whole.

faith hath made

Some folks say, “Oh, but it was easier for her.

Jesus was standing right there.” No, not a thee whole; go in

chance. You see, this woman wasn’t born again.

peace, and be

The new birth wasn’t available until the death, whole of thy

burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

plague.

T h e re f o re, the woman was under the old covenant. She wasn’t alive unto God. She wasn’t —Mark 5:34

filled with the Holy Ghost. She wasn’t a temple of the living God. Her redemption hadn’t been purchased yet.

This woman received her blessings on a promissory note. In other words, Jesus said, “I’ll heal you now and pay for it later on the Cross.”

Some say, “Yes, but it was still easy for her to believe for her healing because Jesus was standing there.” Well, where is Jesus today? He said, “My Father and I will come and make our abode with you. Where two or more are gathered in My name, there I am in their midst.” (John 14:23; Matt. 18:20.)

Jesus lives on the inside of every born-again believer through the p resence of the Holy Spirit. That means we’re wall-to-wall filled with His p resence. How does it get any better than that? We should not only be able to do the same things this woman did, but it should also be easier. We ’ re full of the life, nature, and ability of God. We ’ re part of God’s family—faith sons and daughters of a faith God. We can believe for miracles!

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a faith son or daughter of a faith God.

I can and do believe I receive my healing.

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2 5

Our Faith Plus God’s Power Equals

Healing

And Jesus,

immediately

knowing in himself

a

What was it that made this woman whole? The that virtue had

Bible says Jesus knew “virtue,” or power, had gone out of Him at the same time the woman felt gone out of him,

in her body she was healed of the issue of blood.

turned him about

( v v. 29,30.) But then Jesus said, “Daughter, your in the press, and

faith made you whole.” So which was it? Did said, Who touched

Jesus’ power heal her, or was it her faith?

It was a combination of the two. If Jesus had said, my clothes?

“ D a u g h t e r, My power has healed you,” every o n e And he said unto

in the crowd could’ve asked, “Why didn’t Yo u r her, Daughter, thy

power heal me? I need a miracle too.”

Jesus answered that question before it was faith hath made

even asked. He said, “Daughter, your faith thee whole; go in

made you whole.” Then everyone knew why peace, and be whole

she’d gotten healed and they hadn’t.

of thy plague.

Jesus’ healing power would’ve gone into anyone in that crowd who reached out in faith.

—Mark 5:30,34

But no faith was involved when the others touched Jesus. Therefore, God’s power wasn’t released on their behalf, and the woman was the only one healed.

Even today we need a combination of faith and power. It’s our faith that releases God’s power to perform miracles in our lives. God’s power is always available to His children—it’s just a matter of learning how to tap in to that divine source of power by faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

The woman with the issue of blood released God’s power with her faith. By faith I release that same power in my life. God’s power is making me whole.

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2 6

Make Your Miracle Happen

a

When she had

heard of Jesus,

There are three kinds of people in the world: came in the

those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who wonder press behind,

what is happening.

and touched his

Likewise, we have three kinds of people in the garment. For she

body of Christ. We have folks who wonder said, If I may

what’s happening most of the time. Then, we touch but his

have believers who watch things happen. In clothes, I shall

other words, they watch folks get healed and be whole.

receive miracles and think, Man, I wish God would do something like that for me.

—Mark 5:27,28

But then there’s the third kind of Christian.

These believers are the bunch who make things happen. That’s the group I want to be part of. I don’t want to wait for anything to happen; I want to be out there making it happen.

“That’s pushing God,” some folks say. No, we don’t push or control God.

No one does. We just act on what He’s already said in His Word.

This woman with the issue of blood didn’t wonder what was happening or wait for something to happen. She made something happen with her faith. She didn’t say, “I wish Jesus would come to my house.” No, she went to find Him.

Many in the crowd touched Jesus, but power didn’t flow into any of them.

But this woman didn’t touch Him with her hand only— she touched Jesus with her faith. Reach out in faith for your miracle!

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m as convinced as this woman that God wants me well.

I reach out now with the hand of faith and receive my miracle.

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2 7

Change the Course of Your Life

And a certain

woman, which

a

The woman with the issue of blood had been had an issue of

sick for a very long time. She’d seen every blood twelve

doctor in the country and spent everything she years…when she

had trying to get better. She desired healing had heard of

with all her heart, but nothing had helped; Jesus….

she’d only grown worse.

—Mark 5:25,27

What was the first step this woman took that totally changed her condition? What did she do that set her on a new course toward healing?

Mark 5:27 gives us the answer: “When she had heard…. ”

Nothing happened in this woman’s life until she heard. That may sound like a small thing, but hearing is the biggest factor in changing the course of a person’s life. All through the Bible, we find a direct correlation between hearing and healing.

What did she hear? “When she had heard of Jesus....” In John 1:1, Jesus is called the Word. So when the Bible says, “She had heard of Jesus,” it could just as well say, “She heard the Word.” Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them….”

Jesus doesn’t dwell among us today in the flesh, but we still have the written Word. As we set ourselves to continually hear the Word, our faith will grow. That’s the first step to changing the course of our lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

The power in God’s written Word heals me as I hear it, believe it, and act upon it in faith.

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28

Get Tenacious in Your Faith

a

And a certain

woman, which

This woman had tenacity—she was stubborn.

had an issue of

And we have to be stubborn if we’re going to walk in God’s best. That doesn’t mean we’re to blood twelve

be stubborn with other people, but we must be years, and had

stubborn in our stand on God’s Word.

suffered many

Now, tenacity could also be defined as “resist-ance to flow.” Many people “flow” with what-things of many ever word or wind of doctrine comes along.

physicians, and

They say, “The Word says I’m healed, but the had spent all that

doctors tell me there’s no hope.” These people she had, and was

a re double-minded, flowing back and fort h between God’s promises and man’s opinions.

nothing bettered,

But this woman got tenacious about her but rather

healing. She heard of Jesus and decided to trust grew worse.

Him. She’d been to every doctor in the country, and they’d probably pronounced her incurable.

—Mark 5:25,26

She didn’t have any natural hope left.

So she decided to flow against natural circumstances. It wasn’t easy to do because she was sick, tired, and broke.

Beside that, she had to flow against a multitude of people crowding around Jesus until she finally reached Him.

The flow of the natural realm was telling her, “Give up, lady. This won’t work. You’ve tried everything. Remember, the doctor said you can’t make it.” But the woman got stubborn—and the woman got healed.

Thank God for good doctors, but the Word of God is an even higher authority. We need to get stubborn about holding fast to that anointed Word—no matter what circumstances look like.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m stubborn about standing on God’s Word.

Circumstances don’t move me. I walk by faith—and not sight.

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2 9

Take a Stand

And a certain

woman, which

a

The more you consider this woman with the had an issue of

issue of blood, the more you understand she had blood twelve

to be a stubborn woman. Under Jewish law she years...came in

was considered unclean, which meant when the press behind,

she came out in public she risked being stoned.

and touched

As if that weren’t bad enough, notice whom his garment.

Jesus was walking with at the time: “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the —Mark 5:25,27

synagogue, Jairus by name” (v. 22).

Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter when He perceived that power had flowed out of Him and stopped to find out who had touched Him. As a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus had authority to have this woman stoned.

This woman had to be tenacious, stubborn, resistant to flow. She had to overcome her fear and go against religious leaders.

You know, some ministers say, “Well, you just can’t be healed. God doesn’t heal people anymore.” When that happens, people have to override what those ministers are saying about healing in order to receive healing.

This woman had to overcome a lot—unbelief, fear, and weakness. She had to decide no matter what came against her, she would receive healing.

We must reach that same point and make that same decision: “I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t care what it looks like, seems like, or feels like. I stand on God’s Word, and that’s all there is to it!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I won’t be moved by circumstances or by what others say.

I’m moved only by what God’s Word says. No sickness is too hard for my Father to heal. I receive my healing today.

186

June
30

“Thou Art Loosed!”

a

And [Jesus] was

teaching in one of

This woman had been bowed over for eighteen the synagogues on

years. That’s a tough condition—eighteen years the sabbath. And,

of looking at her shoestrings. The woman couldn’t straighten her back and stand straight.

behold, there was a

She must’ve been in tremendous pain.

woman which had

But then Jesus touched her and said, “Woman, a spirit of infirmity

thou art loosed from thine infirm i t y.” Immediately, eighteen years, and

she was made straight, and she glorified God.

was bowed

Jesus got her attention with His first words to together, and could

her: “Woman, you are loosed.” In other words, in no wise lift

“You were set free a long time ago. Now you up herself.

just need to get rid of the symptoms.” She was the daughter of Abraham. She was loosed, but And when Jesus

she didn’t know it.

saw her, he called

It’s the same thing with Christians today. The her to him, and

Bible says those whom the Son sets free are free said unto her,

indeed. (John 8:36.)

Woman, thou art

We ’ re loosed from all the works of the enemy, loosed from thine

whether we realize it or not. But it’s time to act infirmity. And he

loosed. We were re - c reated in Jesus to walk fre e laid his hands

of all sickness and disease, so let’s do that today!

on her: and

immediately she

C o n fe s s i o n

was made straight,

Because of Jesus, I’m loosed from any

and glorified God.

infirmity. I’m free from all circumstances and symptoms because I hear,

—Luke 13:10-13

believe, and act on the Word.

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Don’t Miss an Opportunity To Act

And [Jesus] was

teaching in one of the

a

Jesus called the woman who was bowed over to synagogues on the

come to Him. He didn’t walk back to her in the sabbath. And, behold,

c rowd and deliver her miracle. Why did Jesus there was a woman

make that woman come to Him? It would’ve been which had a spirit of

easier for Him to walk to her than for her to infirmity eighteen

hobble to Him. After all, she’d been bowed over years, and was bowed

for eighteen years, and He was young and healthy.

together, and could in

But Jesus was giving the woman an opportunity to no wise lift up herself.

act in faith. How do we know her faith was in operation? Because faith always acts on the Wo rd , And when Jesus saw

and the woman had been hearing the Wo rd.

her, he called her to

Look back at verse 10: “And he was teaching in him, and said unto

one of the synagogues on the sabbath.” Jesus her, Woman, thou art

was always putting something into people to loosed from thine

believe. And when they believed and acted on infirmity. And he laid

it, they got results.

his hands on her: and

If the woman had told Jesus, “No, I can’t come immediately she was

to You,” it would’ve been evident she wasn’t made straight, and

expecting anything. She wouldn’t have struggled to come forward if she hadn’t expected to glorified God.

walk back healthy. But this woman was in faith.

—Luke 13:10-13

And when Jesus called her to come forward, she acted on her faith and received her miracle.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus has also loosed me from bondage.

As I act in faith I’m set free from sin and sickness.

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Loosed From the Devil’s Bondage

a

And he laid his

hands on her: and

When Jesus healed this woman, the re l i g i o u s immediately she was

people got angry. Isn’t it amazing how re l i g i o u s made straight, and

people never change? They still get angry today glorified God. And

when people are healed. Often people are angry the ruler of the

when someone else is healed and they’re not.

synagogue answered

This story proves something else to me. The with indignation,

Bible says over and over that the majority of because that Jesus

had healed on the

Jesus’ healings took place on the Sabbath, the sabbath day….

Jews’ sacred day. I believe Jesus was making the point that healing is sacred to God.

The Lord then

However, the ruler of the synagogue didn’t answered him,

agree at all. Jesus rebuked him, saying, “You’d and said, Thou

water your animals on the Sabbath, but you hypocrite, doth not

wouldn’t let this little woman get healed!”

each one of you on

the sabbath loose his

Also, notice the minute this woman got healed ox or his ass from

she glorified God. Some say, “Yes, but God gets the stall, and lead

glory through sickness.” Actually, the Bible says him away to

God got glory when she got healed. The woman watering? And ought

didn’t glorify God much hobbling around with not this woman,

nothing to stare at but her shoes for eighteen being a daughter of

long years. But she glorified God with all her Abraham, whom

heart when she stood straight up and was deliv-Satan hath bound, ered from the devil’s bondage.

lo, these eighteen

years, be loosed

C o n fe s s i o n

from this bond on

My Father has set me free from all bondage, the sabbath day?

and I give Him all the glory.

—Luke 13:13-16

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Sickness—Bondage or Blessing?

And ought not this

woman, being a

a

L e t ’s see what we can learn from this verse.

daughter of

First of all, Jesus called sickness b o n d a g e . We Abraham, whom

d o n ’t know the specific disease this woman had; Satan hath bound,

it could have been crippling arthritis. But we do lo, these eighteen

know the Bible called it a spirit of infirm i t y.

years, be loosed

Whatever it was, Jesus for sure never called from this bond on

her sickness a blessing. He also did n o t s a y, the sabbath day?

“Ought not this woman whom God hath blessed these eighteen years….” No, God’s blessing —Luke 13:16

was in sending Jesus to l o o s e the woman fro m her infirm i t y.

The truth is, God never had anything good to say about sickness. In fact, He detested it so much He sent His own Son Jesus to bear all the sickness of the world upon Himself. Sickness was never called a blessing in the Bible, and anyone who calls it a blessing today doesn’t know what the Bible says.

If sickness and disease are from God, then Jesus was fighting against God when He healed people. If sickness and disease are from God, then Jesus robbed God of His glory when He called sickness a bondage of Satan.

Thank God, the Bible sets us free from wrong thinking and wrong believing so we can enjoy the blessings of healing and health.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m not confused about where sickness comes from. Sickness is a bondage from Satan clear and simple. God wants me to live free of sickness and pain, so I choose to walk in health today.

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Satan Is the Author of Sickness

a

And ought not

this woman,

Two important points are revealed in this being a

Scripture: Sickness is a bondage, and Satan is the author of sickness.

daughter of

For years I’ve heard people say, “God chose to Abraham, whom

have me sick.” Yet Jesus said Satan bound the Satan hath

woman—not God.

bound, lo, these

The truth is that God detests sickness as much eighteen years,

as He detests sin because sickness is a result of be loosed from

the original sin. Sickness didn’t come into the world until sin did. When God ruled and this bond on the

reigned on the earth through Adam, there was sabbath day?

no sickness on the earth. But Adam gave Satan —Luke 13:16

his authority and a long-term lease on creation, and Satan brought sickness with him.

Yet people still blame God for sickness. God had nothing to do with it! It just doesn’t make any sense to call God the author of sickness.

For instance, 1 John 3:8 says, “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” But if God made anyone sick under Jesus’ ministry, then Jesus was destroying the works of God when He healed people. Now if Jesus destroyed God’s works, then we’re in trouble because the Bible says a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. (Matt. 12:25.) No, Jesus never destroyed one work of God. He only “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38).

C o n fe s s i o n

Any sickness that attacks my body is a bondage of Satan.

No sickness is from God. Jesus came to set me free from every sickness and disease, so I accept my healing now.

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Be Loosed

And ought not this

woman, being a

a

We’ve learned from this Scripture that sickness daughter of

is bondage. Then, we saw that sickness came Abraham, whom

from Satan. Now let’s look at Jesus’ question: Satan hath bound,

“Ought not this woman...be loosed?”

lo, these eighteen

Satan had kept this woman in bondage for years, be loosed

eighteen years. But, thank God, Jesus said she from this bond on

ought to be loosed.

the sabbath day?

Jesus was also saying that any person whom Satan has bound with sickness and disease —Luke 13:16

ought to be loosed. And Jesus is in the business of loosing people!

What qualified this woman to be loosed from this satanic bondage? Was she a real saint? Had she done something special? No, Jesus said she ought to be loosed because she was “a daughter of Abraham.”

“Where does that leave me?” you may ask. In a good position because Galatians 3:7 says, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” According to this Scripture, we are sons and daughters of Abraham. We’ve been grafted into his family through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:29 says, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” What is that promise? Well, one of the promises is that we can be loosed from every bondage of the enemy!

C o n fe s s i o n

Because I’m a child of Abraham, I’m loosed from every satanic bondage.

I not only enjoy the same rights and privileges as Abraham did, but I also live under a new and better covenant, established on better p romises—including the promise that by Jesus’ stripes I am healed.

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“The Lord That Healeth Thee”

a

…If thou wilt

diligently hearken

This was God’s first healing covenant with His to the voice of the

people. Some Hebrew scholars say this verse should be translated in the permissive tense— Lord thy God,

meaning “I will allow” instead of “I will put. ” In and wilt do that

that case it would read, “I will allow none of which is right in

these diseases upon thee, which I have allowed upon the Egyptians.”

his sight, and wilt

God finishes by saying, “For I am the Lord give ear to his

that healeth thee.” The Hebrew says, “I am commandments,

Jehovah Rapha.”1

and keep all his

Three million children of Israel left Egypt trusting God. They went out with silver and gold, statutes, I will put

and the Bible says there was not one feeble none of these

person among them. (Ps. 105:37.)

diseases upon

But God put a few conditions on this new thee, which I have

covenant: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that brought upon the

which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to Egyptians: for I

his commandments….” You see, even in the am the Lord that

first healing covenant, there was a correlation between hearing and being healed.

healeth thee.

Also, notice God didn’t say, “I will be or I was —Exodus 15:26

the Lord that healeth thee.” No, He said, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

That’s good news because James 1:17 says God never changes. If He was the Lord who healed His people back then, He’s the Lord who still heals His people today.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m in covenant with Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals me, and I live in in divine health.

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The Arm of the Lord Revealed

Who hath believed

our report? and to

a

Did you ever wonder, to whom does God re v e a l whom is the arm

His arm ? In other words, to whom does God of the Lord

show His strength? And for whom does He revealed?

work miracles?

—Isaiah 53:1

People say, “Oh, you never know for whom God will use His power. God works in mysterious ways.” No, that isn’t the way it works.

If someone starts to reveal his arm—to roll up his sleeves—he’s getting ready to use some strength. If a big guy begins rolling up his sleeves, you figure he’s either getting ready to work or getting ready to fight. And God reveals His arm when He’s ready to go to work—and show some power— for His children.

Does God have favorite children? Does He look at some and say, “I don’t know what it is, but something about you bothers me. I just don’t like you, and I think I’ll take all My blessings somewhere else”?

No, God is no respecter of persons. God doesn’t have favorite children.

What He does for one, He does for anyone. He loves the whole world equally. God loved us while we were yet sinners to the extent that He sent His own Son to die for us.

And yet, God doesn’t reveal His arm for everyone. He reveals His arm and demonstrates His power for those who believe His report—His Word.

So really, the choice isn’t God’s— it’s yours. If you want God’s power revealed to you, then you must believe His report.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s report says by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed. I choose to believe and receive that report. Therefore, God reveals His healing power to me.

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He Carried the Curse Away

a

Surely he hath

borne our griefs,

H u n d reds of years before Jesus Christ ever took and carried our

on flesh and dwelt among us, God gave the p rophet Isaiah a vision. Looking into the future, he sorrows: yet we

saw that Jesus would go to the Cross and die for all did esteem him

mankind. The prophet told us not only what the stricken, smitten

C rucifixion looked like, but he also told us what of God, and

Jesus would purchase and why. The book of Isaiah afflicted.

is called “the Gospel of the Old Te s t a m e n t . ”

—Isaiah 53:4

Let’s look carefully at this verse: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” A lot of people think that means Jesus just helped us carry our burdens. But borne means to lift up, bear away, convey or remove to a distance. 1 When Jesus bore our sins, sicknesses, and pains, He did just help tote them along—He bore them and removed them. Both these words, borne and carried imply substitution, or bearing another’s load.2

Now look at this: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” Jesus didn’t have any griefs or sorrows of His own. He didn’t have any sickness, pain, or sin— we do.

We live in this world, and we were under the curse of the Law. But Jesus bore it all for us. He came in as our substitute and took the curse away from us. He didn’t have to do that; He chose to do it.

We deserved the curse, but Jesus carried it away for us.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus took upon Himself my pain and sickness because He loves me. By faith I receive the divine healing and health His sacrifice provides for me.

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Jesus Purchased Our Physical Healing

Surely he hath

borne our griefs,

a

Let’s examine this Scripture closely—particu-and carried our larly the words, “he hath borne our griefs, and sorrows: yet we

carried our sorrows. ” Isaac Leeser’s respected did esteem him

translation of the Old Testament—the only stricken, smitten of

English translation of the Bible accepted by the God, and afflicted.

Jewish council—translates the words griefs and sorrows as “sicknesses” and “pains.”1 So in the —Isaiah 53:4

Hebrew, it actually says, “Surely He has borne our sicknesses [or our diseases], and carried our pains.” That puts a little different light on this Scripture.

Of course, griefs and sorrows are very similar to sickness and disease.

In fact, sickness and disease c a u s e grief and sorro w. Anyone who says sickness and pain are blessings from God for sure doesn’t understand G o d ’s nature .

For further understanding of this Scripture, we can go to where it was fulfilled in the New Testament. Referring to Jesus’ healing the multitudes, Matthew 8:17 says, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

So Isaiah 53:4 was fulfilled during Jesus’ earthly ministry as He healed people physically. Isaiah’s prophecy, therefore, looked ahead to the time when Jesus would purchase healing for our physical bodies.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus took my sickness and carried my pain.

He paid the price so I could be well. I believe what the Word says. I am healed.

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Redeemed—Spirit, Soul, and Body

a

But he was

wounded for our

When man fell from grace in the Garden of Eden, transgressions,

his spirit, soul, and body fell too. God re s p o n d e d with a plan to redeem mankind with the blood of he was bruised

Jesus. God wasn’t interested in doing just half a for our

job. He wanted to redeem a l l of man.

iniquities: the

Actually, man had a threefold problem, and chastisement of

Jesus gave us a threefold answer. He went to our peace was

the Cross as our substitute, bearing our sins, upon him; and

the chastisement of our peace, and our sick-with his stripes nesses. He paid the same price for all three we are healed.

dimensions of our being, so apparently all three are equally important.

—Isaiah 53:5

You may say, “Well, I thought spiritual things were more important.” In the realm of eternity, that’s true. But God never required us to choose whether we wanted our spirits, souls, or bodies taken care of. He said, “I paid the price for all three dimensions so receive all three benefits!”

The first benefit mentioned in Isaiah 53:5 takes care of the sin problem: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.”

Jesus died on the Cross to pay for our sins. He shed His blood for us because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. (Heb. 9:22.) And He was raised from the dead so we could be born again. Once we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, God’s re p o rt is that we’re forgiven of sins.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus purchased freedom for me spirit, soul, and body.

Therefore, I believe I’m saved, healed, and full of His peace.

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Chastised for Our Peace

But he was

wounded for our

a

Consider the phrase, “the chastisement of our transgressions, he

peace was upon him.” Why was Jesus chastised was bruised for

so much? Think about it: He was beaten. He our iniquities: the

was whipped until His back was laid open. His chastisement of

beard was plucked out, and a crown of thorns our peace was

was placed on His head. Then, finally, He was upon him; and

nailed to the Cross.

with his stripes we

But none of Jesus’ suffering was without are healed.

purpose. Everything that happened to Him was substitutionary. Jesus wore a crown of thorns so —Isaiah 53:5

we could be crowned with glory and honor.

Because He bore our chastisement, we can now live in peace, free from depression and mental anguish.

When you go to any church in this nation and ask, “How many would like more peace?” most of the people raise their hands. Why? Because most Christians don’t know that peace already belongs to them.

Jesus didn’t have to put up with all that His tormenters did to Him. He said, “No man can take My life; only I can lay it down. No man has any authority or power over Me unless it comes from above.” (John 10:18.) No, Jesus paid that price willingly, bearing our chastisement and shedding His blood to give us peace of mind.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus was chastised for my peace; therefore, I’m forever free from depression and mental anguish.

I live in the peace of God.

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Settling the Question of Healing

a

But he was

wounded for our

Jesus was raised from the dead with a perfect, transgressions,

glorified body. So where did He leave our sickness and disease? He left them in hell. Jesus he was bruised

was then called the firstborn of all creation.

for our

(Col. 1:15.)

iniquities: the

Jesus died on the Cross and then descended to chastisement of

the depths of hell, carrying our sickness and our peace was

disease. But when He—the firstborn among upon him; and

many brethern—was raised from the dead, He with his stripes

came forth free of sickness that was laid on we are healed.

Him. There f o re, when we’re born again, healing is ours to claim.

—Isaiah 53:5

Here’s another question: If God didn’t want us healed, why in the world did Jesus bear those stripes before He went to the Cross? That was one misery Jesus could have bypassed. Yet He did it by choice.

You see, healing is no longer a promise—it’s a firmly established fact.

Now you and I just need to get the revelation in our own spirits that healing is God’s will for us. When we do, we’ll start walking in the divine health Jesus purchased for us with the stripes on His back.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus willingly paid the price for me. He took my sickness; He gave me His health. I appropriate what the Lord did for me and receive my healing now.

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Do You Believe God’s Report?

But he was

wounded for our

a

Isaiah 53:1 says, “Who hath believed our transgressions, he

report?” Believing the right report isn’t mind was bruised for

over matter or the power of positive thinking.

our iniquities: the

It’s believing God’s Word over our problems, chastisement of

symptoms, or circumstances. This means we our peace was

have to choose whom we will believe. Will we upon him; and

believe God or the world? Will we believe the voice of the Holy Spirit or the voice of the devil?

with his stripes we

Once we know what God says, we can choose to are healed.

believe His report. In Isaiah 53:5, God gives us —Isaiah 53:5

this report to believe: Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities so we can be free from sin. He took the chastisement of our peace upon Himself so we can have peace. And He bore stripes upon His back so we can be healed.

A note in the margin of my King James Bible states the Hebrew word for stripes literally means “bruise.” Now look at Isaiah 53:10: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him….” Can you imagine our heavenly Father being pleased to bruise His Son?

God was pleased because He understood the end result. Jesus was bruised for our sickness, then died on the Cross for us. But in three days Jesus would be raised from the dead in a glorified, healthy body. And because of the bruises He bore, the entire body of Christ could go free from sickness. That’s the report God wants us to believe.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus shed His blood so I’d be free from sin, and He was bruised for my physical healing. I choose to believe the report of the Lord.

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Jesus’ Ministry—Then and Now

a

The former

treatise have

In Acts 10:38, Peter preached about the eart h l y I made, O

m i n i s t ry of Jesus to Cornelius’ household: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Theophilus, of

Ghost and with power: who went about doing all that Jesus

good, and healing all that were oppressed of the began both to

devil; for God was with him.” Was Peter confused?

do and teach.

Jesus was already gone. Why preach about His e a rthly ministry? It was finished, wasn’t it?

—Acts 1:1

No, Jesus’ earthly ministry was just getting started. He just ascended to the Father’s right hand to become the Head over all things to the body. (Col. 1:18.) Jesus is still working in and through us today. His earthly ministry didn’t stop or diminish—it multiplied. Jesus told His disciples, “It’s better for you if I go. I’ll pray to the Father, and He’ll send another Comforter to abide with you forever.” (John 14:16.)

He also said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).

The last verse of the book of John says, ”There are also many other things which Jesus did…even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25). Then in Acts 1:1, the next verse in the Bible, Luke talks about “all that Jesus began both to do and teach. ”

The body of Christ will pick up where Jesus left off. Jesus ministry of healing and deliverance will continue— in and through us.

C o n fe s s i o n

While Jesus walked the earth, He healed the sick.

As I hear God’s Word, I receive my healing because Jesus’ ministry is still alive today in me.

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Act in Faith as God Leads You

[Jesus]…spat on the

ground, and made

a

You may wonder, What should I do to act on clay of the spittle,

my faith?

and he anointed the

D o n ’t do something because it worked for eyes of the blind

someone else. God will instruct you.

man with the clay,

Jesus told the blind man to wash in the pool of and said unto him,

Siloam, but He didn’t tell anyone else that.

Jesus gave people a variety of different instruc-Go, wash in the pool tions to act on their faith.

of Siloam…he went

I had a friend who was waiting for God to heal his way therefore,

him from severe sugar diabetes. He heard of and washed, and

someone who had thrown away his insulin, so came seeing.

he thought, I’m going to try that too! If I throw away this insulin, God will have to do some-

—John 9:6,7

thing. But he almost died! He tried to make something work instead of acting in faith.

Another time, I traveled with a group that included two diabetics. Throughout the summer I watched them check the amount of insulin they needed daily. Each time they said, “Thank You, Father. I believe I’m healed by Jesus’ stripes. Glory to God!” Then they took whatever insulin they needed.

The insulin wasn’t healing these two people, but it was keeping them alive while they believed God. Soon they needed less insulin. Again, they took whatever medicine they needed and always said, “Thank God, I believe I’m healed.” By the end of the summer, both were healed— neither one needed any insulin at all.

Let God show you how to act on your faith!

C o n fe s s i o n

God shows me how to act in faith.

I follow His instructions and see results.

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Sickness Is a Work of the Devil

a

He that

committeth sin

Why did Jesus become flesh and dwell among is of the devil;

us on this earth? Why was He manifested? The main reason He came into this realm was to for the devil

destroy the works of the devil.

sinneth from the

Did Jesus fulfill what God called Him to do, or beginning. For

did He fail? Of course Jesus accomplished what this purpose the

God sent Him to do. He destroyed the works of Son of God was

the devil. So if we want to find out what the manifested, that

works of the devil are, we need to find out what he might destroy

Jesus destroyed.

the works of

Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the the devil.

devil; for God was with him.” What good did —1 John 3:8

Jesus do? He healed people.

E v e ry time Jesus healed someone, He destroyed the works of the devil—sickness and disease. Every time He forgave someone, He destroyed the works of the devil—sin and separation from God. Every time He set someone free, He destroyed the works of the devil—spiritual, mental, and physical bondage.

Healing multitudes of people was a major part of Jesus’ ministry. In fact, there were times when as many as touched Jesus were made whole.

Jesus accomplished the purpose for which He was sent. Whenever He went about healing people, He was destroying the works of the devil.

C o n fe s s i o n

The devil wanted to kill me, but Jesus set me free and gave me eternal life. The devil wanted to make me sick, but Jesus destroyed his efforts. I am the healed of the Lord.

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Satan, a Defeated Foe

For this purpose

the Son of God

a

was manifested,

Sickness is not a blessing from God—it’s a curse f rom the enemy from whom we’ve been that he might

redeemed. If sickness is from the enemy, we destroy the works

don’t have a thing to be concerned about. Jesus of the devil.

was manifested to destroy the works of the devil—and He did what He was sent to do.

—1 John 3:8

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15

We see in this Scripture that Jesus spoiled principalities and powers.

He spoiled Satan’s army—the beings that back up what little authority Satan had.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14

So if sickness and disease are from the devil (and they are!), then we’re in a good position because Jesus destroyed his works and ruined his arm y.

The Rotherham translation says Jesus defeated Satan so “He might paral-yse him that held the dominion of death.”1 Jesus did all of that for us!

Satan has no legal, moral, or spiritual authority to put anything on you and make it stick. He can only make you sick if you let him. His works have been destroyed, his army has been beaten, and he’s been paralyzed by the blood of Jesus that covers you.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus has given me authority over all the devil’s works in my life. The devil has no legal authority to put anything on me. I am redeemed from the curse.

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Choose Life

a

I call heaven

and earth to

A number of years ago I heard a certain minister say, “The person who shuts his spirit away record this day

cripples himself in life and becomes an easy against you, that

prey to selfish and designing people. But the I have set before

individual who learns to be led by the Spirit of you life and

God will rise to the top in life.”

death, blessing

Something rose up on the inside of me when I and cursing:

heard that, and I thought, Well, now I know it’s my choice!

therefore choose

You see, God doesn’t choose who will be suc-life, that both cessful in life. He’s no respecter of persons. He thou and thy

isn’t in a good mood on some days and in a bad seed may live.

mood on other days. He doesn’t look at one person and say, “I like you. You get everything —Deuteronomy

I’ve got,” and then look at someone else and

30:19

say, “I don’t know what it is about you. You just bug me. You just rub my fur backwards. You don’t get anything.” No! God has no favorites. He loves everyone equally.

It’s up to us whether or not we rise to the top in life. We are free moral agents. We can live mediocre lives, scraping the bottom of the barrel, or we can rise to the top.

Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus purchased for us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The work is already done and already paid for.

Will you walk in the blessings of God? The choice is yours.

C o n fe s s i o n

I choose life, blessing, and health.

I choose to believe God’s Word and rise to the top in life.

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Whom Will You Serve?

Choose you this

day whom ye

a

Man has always had a choice. God has shown will serve….

us that from the beginning. He formed man and —Joshua 24:15

gave him authority over all the works of His hands. God told him to dress the Garden of Eden, keep it, and take care of it.

But God warned Adam, “Don’t eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for in the day you do, you will surely die.” (Gen. 2:16,17.) God was talking about spiritual death, or separation from Him. So what happened? Well, Adam ate of that tree. And from then on, mankind was separated from God, except when animal sacrifices were made. Thank God, Jesus Christ came to earth and brought us back into relationship with the Father.

I used to read the account of Adam and Eve and think, God, why did You do that? Instead of putting the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the midst of the Garden, why didn’t You put it on the southern tip of South America, where it would take 5000 years to find? By then, Adam wouldn’t have wanted it.

Some folks say, “God was testing mankind.” No, this wasn’t a test. God was allowing man the privilege of being a free moral agent, which meant man was free to make choices.

God doesn’t want us to serve Him because we have to, but because we want to. He will allow us to go to hell and spend eternity there if we so choose. Or we can choose life and spend eternity in His presence—starting here and now.

C o n fe s s i o n

I choose to obey God because I want to.

I choose life that I and my seed shall live.

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God Heals Because He Loves

a

And Jesus went

forth, and saw a

Why did Jesus heal the multitudes? Because He great multitude,

was moved with compassion.

and was moved

God often demonstrates His power for people who’ve never had the opportunity to hear His with compassion

Word. Through these demonstrations, God puts toward them,

His “seal of approval” on the Word and mani-and he healed fests His love to the people.

their sick.

Janet and I were in a church service recently —Matthew 14:14

where God demonstrated His love to some visi-tors. The Holy Ghost quickened a word of knowledge to me, so I spoke it out. A woman on the front row came forward and was healed.

The woman gave her testimony and explained, “All these years, I didn’t think God loved me. But I found out differently last night. God called me out of a whole church full of people and healed me. This is the first time in my life I’ve truly known the love of God.”

I thought to myself, God sure knows His business!

Healing is the dinner bell for the Gospel, and we need to ring that bell.

Many people are tired of religious doctrines; they’re looking for something real. God demonstrates that He is real: Healing shows God’s compassion, and miracles show His power.

Many have the idea God is a big bully with a baseball bat, sitting on a cloud, waiting to belt them every time they do something wrong. But God is love, and He proves it to the world by healing people.

C o n fe s s i o n

God loves me. He loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me.

Because of His love, I’m healed.

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Keep the Law of Love

And hope maketh

not ashamed;

a

One way for us to stay healthy is to walk in love.

because the love of

Under the old covenant, God told His people if God is shed

they served Him, He’d take sickness away from abroad in our

the midst of them. (Ex. 23:25.) Then He gave hearts by the Holy

them a list of commandments and ordinances Ghost which is

to obey, knowing that the Israelites had no given unto us.

power to fulfill them.

In essence, He was saying to them, “Here are —Romans 5:5

all these rules and regulations to follow in order to live holy before Me. However, there’s no way you can keep them. So when you break My laws, the blood of an animal sacrifice will cover your sins and iniquities. It will push your sins ahead for a year so you can receive My blessings.”

God gave His laws and commandments to His people to prove to them that they needed a Savior. Galatians 3:24 says the law served as a school-master to bring God’s people to Jesus. God’s people couldn’t be perfected through the Law. They needed a Redeemer.

What about us? Are we able to obey Jesus’ commandment to “Love one another” (John 13:34) any better than the Old Testament saints kept the Law?

Yes! When we’re born again, the Holy Ghost comes to live in us and imparts God’s love in our spirits. We then have the power to walk in love.

As we walk in love, we keep all God’s commandments. And therefore, God takes sickness from the midst of us.

C o n fe s s i o n

God heals me and keeps me in divine health as I walk in love and obey His Word and His Spirit.

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Judge Your Love Walk

a

Charity

suffereth long,

To open our hearts to God and allow Him to work and is kind;

in our lives, we need to judge our love walk.

charity envieth

That means we must know what God’s love acts like, and then make sure we’re doing the same not; charity

thing. Sure, it’s going to be an eff o rt. Sure, we’ll vaunteth not

miss it now and then. But if we don’t start itself, is not

endeavoring to walk in love, then we never will.

puffed up.

The Amplified Bible says, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious —1 Corinthians

nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or

13:4

vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.”

Love endures long. Do we endure long with people? The Phillips translation says, “This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience.” Are we that way?

“Love envies not, love flaunteth not itself.”1 The Williams translation says, “Love never boils over with jealousy.” Have we ever been jealous?

That’s not love. Love doesn’t react that way.

The Phillips translation says, God’s love “is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.” Love never tries to impress anyone.

When we know what love acts like, we have a goal to reach toward. As we trust the greater One in us and tap into His love, which is poured out in our hearts, God will enable us to walk in love.

C o n fe s s i o n

By the power of the Holy Ghost indwelling me, I walk in love toward people. I endure long and am patient and kind. I don’t boil over with jealousy. I’m not boastful or anxious to impress.

In every circumstance, I obey the law of love.

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Love Always Forgives

[Love] doth not

behave itself

a

Love always forgives. Forgiveness is one of the unseemly, seeketh

offsprings of love. The Amplified Bible says it not her own, is not

this way:

easily provoked,

[Love] is not conceited (arrogant and inflated thinketh no evil.

with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and —1 Corinthians

does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love

13:5

in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suff e red wrong].

Galatians 5:6 talks about “faith which worketh by love.” Love forgives, so we could say faith works by forgiveness. Isn’t that what Jesus was telling us in Mark 11:25? “And when ye stand praying, forgive….” Faith works by love, and love always forgives.

First Corinthians 13:5 goes on to say that love “seeketh not her own.” The Revised Standard Version says, “Love does not insist on its own way.”

Goodspeed says, “It does not insist on its own rights.”1 How often have we said, “I’ve got my rights!” No, love doesn’t insist on its own rights.

Love “is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” The New English Bible s a y s love is “not quick to take offence.” Love keeps no score of wrongs. Now, our flesh will say, “I remember what that old bat did to me.” But love doesn’t take any account of the evil done to it, because love always forg i v e s .

C o n fe s s i o n

I walk in love because my Father is Love. I’m not arrogant, prideful, or rude. I don’t insist on my own rights or keep a score of wrongs. I’m not quick to take offense, but I’m quick to forgive.

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Walking in the God-Kind of Love

a

[Love] rejoiceth

not in iniquity,

The Amplified Bible helps us see what it really means to walk in the God-kind of love:

but rejoiceth in

[Love] does not rejoice at injustice and the truth;

unrighteousness, but rejoices when right beareth all

and truth prevail. Love bears up under anythings, believeth thing and everything that comes, is ever all things,

ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, hopeth all

and it endures everything [without weakenthings, endureth ing]. Love never fails [never fades out or all things.

becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Charity never

First, this Scripture says that love “rejoiceth not faileth….

in iniquity.” Love is never glad when others go the wrong way in life. On the other hand, your —1 Corinthians

flesh is glad when someone else stumbles

13:6-8

because that elevates you in your own mind.

Love is always glad when truth prevails. It over-looks faults. It’s always slow to expose faults or sins and is always eager to believe the best. Love will go a long way to believe the best. It doesn’t look for something wrong, but always looks for the good in every person.

So how do you measure up to this definition of love? If you find areas where you’re lacking in your love walk, ask the Holy Spirit to help you make the necessary adjustments. Remember, your faith only works when love is operating in your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

I walk in love because I’m a child of a loving God.

I don’t rejoice at injustice or iniquity, but I rejoice in the truth.

I believe the best about people and endure everything without weakening. God’s love in me never fails.

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Keep Your Confidence Toward God

Beloved, if our

heart condemn us

a

God said if our hearts don’t condemn us, we not, then have we

have confidence toward Him and we receive confidence toward

what we ask for. So if we’ve been asking for God. And

something and haven’t received our answer, we whatsoever we

need to examine our love walk with others.

ask, we receive of

We receive what we ask for because we obey him, because we

His commandments and do that which is pleas-keep his ing in His sight. And these are His command-commandments, ments: that we believe on the Lord Jesus, and and do those

that we love one another.

things that are

Walking in love keeps us out of trouble and in pleasing in his

the blessings of God. Sure, it’s work. It’s not easy to put the body under. Most of us have sight. And this is

been accustomed to letting the flesh dominate his commandment,

us in certain areas. For instance, the flesh That we should

thinks it’s fun to criticize and talk about people believe on the

because it makes the talker feel bigger.

name of his Son

But if we walk the love walk, we put ourselves Jesus Christ, and

in a position to walk in God’s blessings. And I love one another,

guarantee you, nothing the flesh offers comes as he gave us

close to the blessings of God.

commandment.

C o n fe s s i o n

—1 John 3:21-23

I walk in love; therefore, I’m confident God hears and answers my prayers.

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The Command of Love

a

A new

commandment I

What are God’s statutes and commandments give unto you,

for us to live by under the new covenant? In this Scripture, Jesus gives us one new command-That ye love one ment—that we love one another.

another; as I

Under the old covenant, God said if we would have loved you,

keep His ordinances, statutes, and command-that ye also love ments, He would take sickness from our midst.

one another. By

(Ex. 23:25.) Similarly, 1 John 3:22 says that this shall all

because we keep God’s commandments, we men know that

receive what we ask of Him. So we see that the ye are my

same restrictions that applied under the old disciples, if ye

covenant apply now. Under both covenants, God says, “I’ll take care of you and bless you have love one to

and cause you to walk in health, if you will keep another.

My commandments.”

—John 13:34,35

In the Old Testament, God’s people had many statutes, commandments, and ordinances to obey. In the New Testament, God condenses all His laws into one important commandment and calls it love.

Romans 13:10 says, “…Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” As we walk in love, we fulfill all of God’s other commandments.

C o n fe s s i o n

I will walk in love toward others in every situation.

As I obey the commandment of love, my Father takes sickness away from me. And I live in divine health.

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What Can You Believe?

…but if thou canst

do any thing, have

a

A man brought his demon-possessed son to compassion on us,

Jesus and said, “If You can do anything, have and help us.

compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said unto

Jesus said in essence, “It’s not a question of him, If thou canst

what I can do; the question is, What can you believe? If you can believe, all things become believe, all things

possible for you. It’s not up to Me; it’s up to you.

are possible to him

I don’t decide if your son gets healed—you do. I that believeth.

have the ability, but it’s up to you whether or —Mark 9:22,23

not My ability is released.”

Over and over again in the Scriptures God “puts the ball back in our court.” We’ve been crying out to God, saying, “Oh, God, move. Oh, God, do something!” Meanwhile, He’s been saying, “You believe; then I’ll move.”

God gave us His Word and His faith. After we use the faith He gave us to believe the Word He gave us, it’s His turn to move again.

God really gave us the easy part of the covenant. But a lot of times, we’ve avoided our responsibility. It’s easier to just lean back and wait for God to do everything.

But that never worked for the people under Jesus’ ministry. Jesus taught the Word to give people something to believe; then they had to act on their faith in that Word.

According to Jesus’ own words, approximately 70 percent of the people healed under His ministry did so as a result of their own faith. As a result of your faith, all things are possible to you!

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe and act on the Word and receive my miracle today.

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“Help Thou Mine Unbelief”

a

…but if thou canst

do any thing, have

When the man in this passage pleaded with compassion on us,

Jesus to help his son, Jesus said to him in essence, “It’s not just up to Me. It’s whether you and help us.

can believe that really matters.” Instead of Jesus said unto

getting discouraged, the man caught what Jesus him, If thou canst

said. He said, “All right, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” In other words, he said, “I believe it in believe, all things

my heart, but my head is giving me trouble.”

are possible to him

A lot of times people say, “I believe I’m healed, that believeth.

but what about the symptoms and circum-And straightway stances?” or “I believe I’m healed, but when is the father of the

this pain going to stop?”

Have you ever been in a spot like that? That’s child cried out,

where this father of a demon-possessed son and said with

found himself. “I believe my son is free, Lord; I tears, Lord, I

extend my faith. But please help my unbelief.”

believe; help thou

In other words, doubts were trying to crowd mine unbelief.

into his head.

The minute people say, “I believe, but…” you —Mark 9:22-24

just know they’re looking in the wrong direction. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul said, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen….” Too many times we’ve thought about and watched the problem.

Then we’ve wondered why our faith hasn’t worked.

We need to say, “I know the problem is there, but who cares? I’m looking at God’s unseen Word, which produces victory every time.”

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe God’s Word that says I’m healed, so I am healed.

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All Things Are Possible When You Believe Jesus said unto

him, If thou canst

a

Jesus made a powerful statement to the man who believe, all things

b rought his son to Him for deliverance. He said, are possible to him

“All things are possible to him that believeth.”

that believeth.

The reason Jesus could say that is shown in —Mark 9:23

Hebrews 1:1-2: “God… hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things….” How many is all? All is all! Jesus has been made heir of all things.

Then Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….”

If you’re a joint heir with someone, then whatever he inherits also belongs to you. Well, what did Jesus inherit since God appointed Him heir of all things?

Jesus said in Mark 10:27, “For with God all things are possible.” That’s great for God, but what about us? Jesus cleared up that question as well when He said, “All things are possible to him that believeth. ” Why are all things possible to the person who believes? Because we’re joint heirs with Jesus, the heir of all things.

Whatever God has, is, and can do is available to us as we tap our faith into His grace and His ability. If we get ahold of that, it will absolutely change our lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

With God, all things are possible. He’s greater than any sickness, difficulty, or lack. He’s greater than all, and He lives in me—so all things are possible to me because I believe.

216

J
u
ly
30

Let God Be True in Your Life

a

God forbid: yea,

let God be true,

Paul was saying to the Romans, “You have to but every man

choose what you’re going to believe.” Every person in this world has to decide what is going a liar….

to be true in his life.

—Romans 3:4

Notice, Paul didn’t say, “God is true.” He said, “Let God be true.” You is the understood subject of the sentence. That means you are to let God be true in your life. Are you going to let God be true or let the problem be true?

The Bible says, “By Jesus’ stripes you were healed.” (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24.) A lot of people say, “I know that’s what the Bible says, but I don’t feel very good.” Well, they’ve chosen to let their symptoms be truth and God a liar. They’ve chosen to let the problems be truth and God a liar.

They’re living on the negative side of life, always focusing on their problems instead of God’s Word.

You can’t focus on the problem and go over in victory, and you can’t focus on the answer and go under in defeat. So what are you focusing your attention on?

We have to let God be true, switch over to the realm of faith, and declare, “Who cares what it looks or feels like? The Bible says I’m healed!”

You may know God’s Word is true, but Paul says in this Scripture that you have to choose what is truth in your life. Are you going to believe symptoms and circumstances, or are you going to believe God?

C o n fe s s i o n

I choose to let God’s Word be truth in my life.

I steadfastly focus on His Word and receive what God says is mine.

217

J
u
ly
31

Step out of the Boat by Faith

And in the fourth

watch of the night

a

The disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus went unto

fighting to keep afloat in a storm. Suddenly, them, walking

Jesus came walking across the sea toward their on the sea.

boat. He’d been spending time with the Father and gotten so caught up in the glory He didn’t And Peter

even need a boat.

answered him and

Peter called out, “Lord, if that’s You, I want to come said, Lord, if it be

out there!” Jesus called back, “Come on out!”

thou, bid me come

I like Peter; he was a pioneer. He didn’t want to unto thee on

walk the same road everyone else traveled. He the water.

wanted to plow a new one.

Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk And he said,

on the water toward Jesus. But it wasn’t the Come. And when

water that held Peter up. Try it sometime, and Peter was come

see if water holds you up! No, it wasn’t the down out of the

water—it was Jesus’ word that kept Peter on top ship, he walked

of the water.

Jesus had said to him, “Come.” And every time on the water, to

Peter put his foot down to take another step on go to Jesus.

the water, he landed on that word. Peter heard —Matthew

and believed what Jesus said. Then Peter acted

14:25,28,29

on what Jesus said, keeping his eyes on Jesus all the while.

Like Peter, take a step of faith out on the Word and believe God for the miracle you need.

C o n fe s s i o n

When the One who made my body tells me it’s healed, it’s healed.

The Word of God is the unsinkable foundation I walk on.

218

August
1

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

a

And in the fourth

watch of the night

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the Jesus went unto

water. But then Peter made a mistake. He was them, walking on

hearing, believing, and acting right, but then the sea.

“he saw the wind boisterous.” He took his eyes off Jesus and started watching the strong wind And Peter

blowing on the stormy sea.

answered him and

At that moment, fear entered in, faith stopped, said, Lord if it be

and Peter started to sink. It was as though he thou, bid me come

was thinking, I can’t walk on water when the unto thee on

wind is blowing, especially when the waves are the water.

big! He must have forgotten who had made it And he said,

possible for him to walk on the water when it Come. And when

had been smooth.

Peter was come

When we’re believing God, we need to hear down out of the

God’s Word, believe God’s Word, say God’s ship, he walked on

Word, and act on God’s Word. But we also need the water, to go

to keep our eyes off the problem and on Jesus, to Jesus.

who is God’s Word. No matter what stormy circumstances we face, Jesus is the answer to our But when he

every need.

saw the wind

boisterous, he was

C o n fe s s i o n

afraid; and

I keep my eyes on Jesus, not looking

beginning to sink,

at the circumstances or impossibilities

he cried, saying,

that surround me. I choose to believe

Lord, save me.

His Word, and my faith holds me up.

—Matthew

14:25,28-30

219

August
2

“Fear Not”

And when Peter

was come down

a

Does this scenario sounds familiar: You’re in a out of the ship,

trial, but you’re believing right, talking right, he walked on

and acting right. Then circumstances pull your the water, to

eyes off Jesus and onto the problem. Suddenly, go to Jesus.

your faith is replaced with fear, and you begin to lose ground.

But when he

T h a t ’s what happened to Peter. When he saw the wind

stepped out of the boat and began walking on boisterous, he

the water, he was believing and acting right.

was afraid….

But the minute Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked back on the problem, his faith stopped —Matthew

working. His eyes started looking in the wrong

14:29,30

direction, and fear entered in.

I used to be afraid of everything, but then I got a revelation of Psalm 91. If I didn’t know Psalm 91 worked today, I’d never get on a plane. But Janet and I travel all the time, flying across the ocean several times a year. We never have a problem and never will because He’s given His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. (Ps. 91:11.)

Sometimes Christians make the mistake of rebuking the fear without replacing it with anything. Jesus said, “Fear not; only believe. ” (Mark 5:36.) In other words, He was saying, “If you want to believe God, you have to let your faith drive out fear.”

How do you get rid of fear? Get in the Word! Faith comes by hearing God’s Word, and faith drives out fear and enables you to keep your eyes where they belong— on Jesus.

C o n fe s s i o n

God saves, heals, guides, and protects me. So I boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear!” (Heb. 13:5,6.) 220

August
3

Don’t Get Under Condemnation

a

And

immediately

Peter was actually walking on the water. But when he got his eyes off the answer and onto Jesus stretched

the problem, he began to sink. However, notice forth his hand,

that Jesus didn’t just walk over, slap him, and and caught him,

say, “Swim back to the boat!”

and said unto

That’s the impression a lot of people have of him, O thou of

God. They think, I missed it; God is going to get little faith,

me now. They come under condemnation wherefore didst

because they’ve had a faith failure.

thou doubt? And

But God doesn’t want you to feel condemned when they were

when you miss it and get out of faith. He’s not come into

condemning you. His hand is always reaching the ship, the

out to pull you back up on top of the situation, wind ceased.

Jesus didn’t put Peter under condemnation. He just asked him, “Why did you doubt?” Then —Matthew

Jesus caught hold of Peter’s hand and helped

14:31,32

him stand up on top of the water again. And I don’t believe Jesus just pulled Peter along back to the boat. I think they walked back together and had a good discussion about faith on the way.

C o n fe s s i o n

Even when I miss God’s best, He doesn’t condemn me.

He picks me up and helps me on my way.

There is no condemnation for me because

I’m in Christ Jesus, and I walk after the Spirit of God.

221

August
4

Great Faith—Little Faith

And when Peter was

come down out of

a

the ship, he walked

Peter was walking on the water. He had a miracle on the water, to go

going. He’d stepped out in faith on the strength of Jesus’ word, but got his eyes off the answer and to Jesus.

onto the problem and began to sink. Jesus caught But when he saw the

him and said, “O thou of little faith.”

wind boisterous, he

Do you know what “little faith” is? It’s keeping was afraid; and

your eye on the problem instead of the answer.

beginning to sink,

Weak faith says, “I know what God says, but, he cried, saying,

man, look at the problem!” Great faith says, “I Lord, save me.

don’t care what it looks like! I know what God says.” The difference between great faith and And immediately

weak faith is found in what you dwell on—the Jesus stretched forth

problem or the answer.

his hand, and

One example of great faith can be found in caught him, and

Romans 4:19: “And being not weak in faith, said unto him, O

[Abraham] considered not his own body now thou of little faith,

dead, when he was about an hundred years old, wherefore didst

neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

thou doubt?

Now, take the two nots out of that Scripture, and you’ll see an example of weak faith: “Being —Matthew 14:29-31

weak in faith, he considered his own body now dead.” Weak faith considers the body or the problem; strong faith considers what God says or the answer.

Abraham was fully persuaded God would perform what He promised.

That’s the mark of great faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

I won’t focus on symptoms or circumstances.

I’ll look at God’s Word and walk in victory every time.

222

August
5

Don’t Observe “Lying Vanities”

a

They that

observe lying

Jonah had a whale of a problem. God told him vanities forsake

to go to Nineveh and preach, but Jonah refused.

He got in to a boat to run away, but a storm their own mercy.

arose threatening to sink it. Jonah knew he was —Jonah 2:8

the cause of the storm, so he told the crew to throw him overboard. As soon as he hit the water, a great fish swallowed him. (Jonah 1:1-17.)

By then, Jonah realized he’d missed it, but he also realized it wasn’t too late to set things straight. So Jonah repented before God. Then he made this powerful statement: “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”

Every one of us needs God’s mercy. So “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Whatever we need is available by God’s mercy.

But Jonah said, “If you observe lying vanities, you’ll forsake your own mercy.” You see, anything contrary to God’s Word is a lying vanity. Jonah was saying, “I can sit here in this whale and dwell on my predicament, or I can dwell on mercy. I can either observe the problem or the answer.

But if I observe the problem, I forsake my own mercy.”

Don’t forsake your mercy and watch symptoms or bad reports. Make the right choice and observe the answer.

Jonah made the right choice to trust God instead of his problem. So it wasn’t long before he was out of the fish and safe on dry land.

C o n fe s s i o n

I won’t keep my eyes on symptoms or bad reports and forsake my mercy. I observe God’s Word and receive His benefit of healing.

223

August
6

Abraham, the Father of Our Faith

God talked with

[Abraham], saying,

a

Romans 4:16 calls Abraham our father of faith.

As for me, behold,

God made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “I my covenant is

have made you the father of many nations.” He with thee, and

didn’t say, “I will make you.” He said, “I have made you.”

thou shalt be a

You see, God always calls those things that be not father of many

as though they were. (Rom. 4:17.) He talks about nations. Neither

what doesn’t exist as though it already existed.

shall thy name any

T h a t ’s why it’s all right for us to do the same.

We ’ re not lying; we’re following God’s example.

more be called

But remember, God was talking to a 100-year-Abram, but thy old man and his 90-year-old wife who were past name shall be

child-bearing age. Medically speaking, it was Abraham; for a

impossible.

father of many

Abraham could’ve said, “Now, God, I appre c i a t e Your enthusiasm, but we’re a little old to have a nations have I

b a b y. Why don’t You talk to the nice young couple made thee.

down the street who already have four kids?”

—Genesis 17:3-5

Yet Abraham had a deep awe and respect for Almighty God. He believed what God said, despite the situation looking hopeless in the natural. That’s the key.

Abraham had to believe what God said before he could become what God s a i d . “[Abraham] against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken…” (v. 18).

You’re no different than the father of faith, so follow his lead.

C o n fe s s i o n

God says by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed. So when symptoms come against me, I call those things that be not as though they were, saying, “I am healed.”

224

August
7

Don’t Deny the Problem

a

And being not

weak in faith,

Did you notice that Abraham never denied the [Abraham]

problem? He just didn’t consider it. He never said, “No, I’m not 100 years old. I’m more like considered not his

20 or 25.”

own body now

God doesn’t want us to deny problems exists.

dead, when he was

He doesn’t advocate lying or “mind over about an hundred

matter.” He’s just saying, “Don’t consider prob-years old, neither lems; switch over and consider the Word. Don’t deny that the problem is there; just observe the yet the deadness of

Word and keep your eyes on the answer.”

Sarah’s womb.

I once overh e a rd someone say to another —Romans 4:19

person, “Oh, you look sick, and you sound like you have a cold.”

The other person replied, “No, I don’t. I’m not sick.”

The first person said, “Well, your nose is running.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“But you sound sick.”

“No, I’m not sick,” the second person insisted. But everyone around him could see he was. This person thought he was in faith, but he was really just denying the problem.

God doesn’t want us to do that. He simply wants us to say, “It doesn’t matter what I look like, feel like, or sound like. The only thing that matters is what God says. God tells me that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed, and I believe Him!”

So don’t deny the problem or try to think it away. Just look at it and say, “Who cares? The answer is mine—I have God’s Word on it!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I don’t deny the problems that arise. I just believe God’s Word, which is greater than problems, symptoms, or circumstances. I’m fully persuaded that what God has promised, He’s able to do. (Rom. 4:21.) 225

August
8

Fix Your Eyes on God’s Word

Wherefore let him

that thinketh he

a

The enemy will do anything in the world to get standeth take heed

a believer’s eyes off the answer and back on lest he fall.

the problem.

—1 Corinthians

For instance, I’ve heard people say, “I believe

10:12

I’m healed! I believe I’m healed!” But when their bodies started to feel a little better, they’ve gotten their eyes off the Word and back over on their bodies. Then they say, “Oh, I know I’m getting better now because I feel better.”

That sounds good, but if believers get their eyes off the Word for any reason, it could get them in trouble. If they say, “I know I’m healed because my body feels better,” what will they do if their bodies feel worse the next day? More than likely, they’ll fall back into doubt and unbelief.

We don’t need any other reason to believe we’re well except 1 Peter 2:24: “By Jesus’ stripes, we were healed.” If the enemy can keep us watching our symptoms—whether those symptoms are getting better or worse— he has control over us.

But as we keep our eyes on the Word, it doesn’t matter what our bodies feel like. Ultimately, they will have to respond to that anointed Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m not moved by what I see or feel. I’m moved only by the Word of God. I know I’m healed simply because the Bible says by Jesus’ stripes, I was healed.

226

August
9

Turn Your Face to the Wall

a

In those days was

Hezekiah sick

King Hezekiah was sick unto death. In other unto death. And

w o rds, he suff e red from a terminal illness. A lot Isaiah the

of people are shaken when doctors tell them t h e y ’ re not going to live. Imagine what it was like prophet…said

for Hezekiah when God gave him that message.

unto him, Thus

The prophet Isaiah came to the king and said, saith the Lord, Set

“Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: thine house in

for thou shalt die, and not live.” It’s important to order: for thou

understand that God wasn’t judging the man.

shalt die, and

God was simply giving Hezekiah a natural diag-not live.

nosis: He was going to die. Therefore, Hezekiah was supposed to set his house in order.

Then Hezekiah

But the king decided he would rather live. The turned his face

next verse says, “Then Hezekiah turned his toward the wall,

face toward the wall, and prayed unto the and prayed unto

Lord.” Hezekiah not only prayed, but he also the Lord.

turned his face to the wall. What does that mean? Well, the prophet Isaiah had just laid out —Isaiah 38:1,2

King Hezekiah’s situation before him. The king was keenly aware of his symptoms, pain, and dismal future. But in response, he turned his face to the wall—away from all natural circumstances—and talked to God.

He turned his back on everything but Almighty God. What happened?

King Hezekiah lived!

C o n fe s s i o n

When symptoms attack my body, I turn my face to the wall and say, “Father, thank You that Your Word is true.”

I don’t deny symptoms, but I don’t dwell on them either.

I look to Almighty God and receive the healing He’s provided for me.

227

August
10

Believing God Is Easy

Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto

a

you, That whosoever

Jesus gives His disciples some good instruction shall say unto this

on the subject of faith here. He starts out by saying, “Have faith in God.” Then in verse 23, mountain, Be thou

Jesus explains the two foundational principles: removed, and be

Believe in your heart and say with your mouth.

thou cast into the

Verse 24 starts with the word therefore, which sea; and shall not

connects verse 24 with the previous verses.

doubt in his heart,

That tells us Jesus is still teaching on the but shall believe that

subject of faith.

those things which

“When ye pray, believe, ” Jesus said. But why? It he saith shall come

all seemed so hard.

to pass; he shall

I wondered, L o rd, why did You make it so have whatsoever

h a rd? Why do we have to believe? Why can’t we just throw a prayer out and see if You take it or he saith.

leave it? But I tried that method for years, and Therefore I say unto

it didn’t work.

you, What things

Then one day I realized, Lord, believing isn’t soever ye desire,

hard! It’s the easiest thing in the world!

when ye pray,

You see, you’ve never prayed a prayer in your believe that ye

life without believing something. Believing is receive them, and ye

the easiest, most natural thing in the world.

shall have them.

The question is, what do you believe?

And what does God want you to believe? “When —Mark 11:22-24

ye pray, believe that ye receive. ” Believe that your request is granted—and you shall have it.

C o n fe s s i o n

God says He’s the God who heals me. I ask Him now to heal me and believe I receive my request.

228

August
1 1

Believe That You Receive

a

Therefore I say

unto you, What

I remember when I first got saved, I’d pray, “Oh things soever ye

Lord, I ask You to heal me in Jesus’ name. I ask You for healing now. Amen.” Then when desire, when ye

someone would ask, “Did you get anything?” I’d pray, believe that

check my body and say, “Well, no, I don’t think ye receive them,

so.” And according to my faith it would be done and ye shall

unto me. I’d pray and then I’d believe I would-have them.

n’t get anything, so I wouldn’t get anything. My faith worked all the time.

—Mark 11:24

But Jesus did not say, “When you pray, believe you don’t receive anything, and you’ll have it.” It sounds funny, but a lot of us prayed that way for years. A lot of people still do. They pray and then check to see whether their bodies feel any better or whether the symptoms are gone. And if nothing is different, they don’t believe they received anything.

That’s not what Jesus said to do. If we want His results, we have to follow His instructions. He didn’t say, “When you pray, believe you didn’t receive.” He said, “When you pray, believe you receive. ”

C o n fe s s i o n

When I pray for healing, I don’t check to see if symptoms are gone or if anything in my body has changed. I believe I receive when I pray, and God sees to it that my healing manifests.

229

August
12

The Present Tense of Faith

Therefore I say

unto you, What

a

Here’s another way to pray that sounds really things soever ye

spiritual but is wrong: “Oh Father, I ask You to desire, when ye

heal me in Jesus’ name. I ask You for results.

pray, believe that

Amen.” Now, so far this person is doing fine.

ye receive them,

But when someone asks the person, “Well, did and ye shall

you get anything?” the person checks to see and says, “Well, I tell you one thing. I believe God is have them.”

going to heal me.”

—Mark 11:24

That sounds really good because the person is saying, “I believe.”

I’ve heard people do this. They’re sincerely believing in their hearts, but they’re sincerely wrong in the way they’re believing.

I was talking with a friend who mentioned a person we both knew. He said, “Man, he didn’t get his healing, and I know he was in faith.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, I heard him. He kept saying, ‘You watch—I believe God is going to heal me.’”

But Jesus didn’t say, “When you pray, believe you’re going to get something, and you’ll have it.” No, faith always speaks in the present tense.

If we analyze that person’s words, it becomes obvious what he’s saying: “I prayed, but I don’t feel any better. Therefore, I don’t believe I’m better.

But although I haven’t received a thing yet, you can bet I’ll believe it when I feel better!”

But Jesus told us exactly how to pray in faith: “When you pray, believe that you receive”—right now, present tense.

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing belongs to me as a child of God. I’m not going to be healed— I’m already healed because I believe I receive my answer when I pray.

230

August
13

Two Points in Time

a

Therefore I say

unto you, What

We’re still talking about the prayer of faith—the things soever ye

kind of prayer that receives from God.

desire, when ye

I always thought the prayer of faith involved pray, believe that

just one point in time. I thought, Well, you’re supposed to pray and then check to see if any-ye receive them, thing happened. If it didn’t, too bad—try again and ye shall

later. See if you can catch God in a better mood.

have them.

But this Scripture shows us that the prayer of —Mark 11:24

faith includes two points in time. Jesus said, (1) “When you pray, believe you receive your a n s w e r ” — p resent tense. Then He said, (2) “And you shall have it”— f u t u re tense.

When will you have it? After you believe you receive it. When do you believe you receive it? Before you have it.

“Well, I can’t believe because I don’t have it.” But you have to believe before you have it. “How can I believe I have it when I don’t?” You believe you receive when you pray, and then you shall have your answer. “Yes, but I don’t have it.” But you have to believe you receive first.

Some people get hung up on this key point and put the cart before the horse. They want to receive their answer before they believe they received.

The first step is to pray and believe we receive the answer, “walking by faith and not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7.) The second step is to actually see our answer in full manifestation.

C o n fe s s i o n

When I need healing in my body, I ask God for it and believe I receive what He said is mine. Then I stand in faith until my healing manifests.

231

August
14

First the Believing, Then the Having

Therefore I say

unto you, What

a

We are to pray, believing we receive, and then things soever ye

the answer comes. But well-meaning Christians desire, when ye

s a y, “You know, I have trouble believing I have pray, believe that

something until I feel it.” Or, “I’m not going to ye receive them,

believe I’m healed until I feel better. I just can’t and ye shall

believe I’ve received anything I can’t see.”

have them.

In case that thought has ever come to you, let —Mark 11:24

me ask you this: Do you believe you have a brain? Have you ever seen your brain? That may seem like a strange question, but it proves a point. You have no proof that you have a brain. The anatomy book says it’s there; a doctor may say it’s there. But otherwise, you have no proof.

When you stop to think about it, about 80 percent of the things we believe are accepted as truth without feeling or seeing them. In school, I believed what I read in the history books. For instance, I wasn’t around when George Washington was alive, but I believed the history book when it said he was our first president.

Well, we need to attribute more credibility to God’s Word than we do history books. Sometimes we’re willing to believe anything we read except the Bible; then we say, “Lord, give me a sign.”

We have to believe we receive; then we will have. First comes the believing; then comes the having. When we operate in that kind of faith, we get so excited believing we forget to check when the answer manifests.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe I receive the healing God has provided for me, and I shall see it manifested in my body.

232

August
15

Believe Without Seeing First

a

Therefore I say

unto you, What

Some ask, “Is it scriptural to believe you receive things soever ye

before you see or feel anything?” Let’s look at a Bible illustration to find the answer.

desire, when ye

Remember, Jesus told the disciples over and pray, believe that

over again, “I’m going, but I’ll be back.” But ye receive them,

when He went to the Cross, the disciples and ye shall

thought He was dead and gone for good.

have them.

But then Jesus was resurrected and appeared to His disciples, though Thomas wasn’t present at —Mark 11:24

the time. When Thomas showed up later, the others told him, “We’ve seen the Lord ! ”

Thomas replied, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Thomas, who probably thought he was being spiritual, was saying, “I won’t believe anything until I can see and touch Him.”

A few days later the disciples were all together, and Jesus walked in. The first thing He did was say to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). In other words, Jesus told him, “Quit being faithless; just believe.”

Jesus set doubting Thomas straight: “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”

(John 20:29).

Jesus said the blessed ones are those who believe without seeing first. I want to be on the blessed side of life, don’t you?

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m blessed because I believe I receive the promises of God’s Word—now—before I see them.

233

August
16

Move Up to the Next Faith Level

And there was a

certain nobleman,

a

whose son was sick

Understand this situation. This man was a at Capernaum.

nobleman; he was a ruler, and he was important. When he said, “Come to my house,”

When he heard that

people didn’t question him; they just asked, Jesus was come out

“What time?” I’m sure no one refused.

of Judea into

Galilee, he went

The nobleman had heard of Jesus and came to see the Miracle Wo r k e r. He said to Jesus, unto him, and

“Come down to my house; my son is at the point besought him that he

of death. Come and heal him.”

would come down,

and heal his son: for

Jesus turned to him and said, “If you don’t see signs and wonders, you won’t believe.” Jesus he was at the point

had instantly located this man’s faith level.

of death.

Think back to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue Then said Jesus unto

in Mark 5, who came to Jesus and said, “Come him, Except ye see

to my house. My little daughter is at the point of signs and wonders,

death. But if You lay hands on her, she will live.”

ye will not believe.

Jesus went with him, and the child was healed.

—John 4:46-48

Why did Jesus go with one father and not the other? I don’t know why, but I do know Jesus was always led by the Holy Ghost. And He got results in both cases.

I believe Jesus wanted to grab the nobleman by his faith and yank him up to a higher level so his life would be changed forever.

C o n fe s s i o n

I step out this day on God’s Word of healing and expect it to effect a healing and a cure in my physical body.

234

August
17

Faith Comes Before the Physical Evidence a

The nobleman

saith unto him,

The nobleman said, “Jesus, if You come, my son Sir, come down

will live; if You don’t, he’ll die.”

ere my child die.

Jesus replied, “Go your way, and believe what I say: Your son lives.”

Jesus saith unto

That put the nobleman in a difficult spot. He’d him, Go thy

traveled more than twenty miles to see Jesus, way; thy son

which was a long trip even if he had the fastest chariot around. He didn’t see or feel anything— liveth. And the

no burning bush, no goose bumps, no gifts of man believed the

the Spirit in manifestation. All he had to hold on word that Jesus

to were the bare words of Jesus.

had spoken unto

So the nobleman had to make the choice: him, and he

Should I stand here and argue with Jesus or went his way.

take Him at His Word?

The nobleman decided to turn around and head —John 4:49,50

home, believing the word that was spoken. As he traveled back to his home, the devil probably talked to his mind, saying, How can you just accept Jesus’ words? Your son is in bad shape, and Jesus isn’t coming back with you.

Yet the nobleman demonstrated true faith. He traveled home, believing his son was well, with nothing but God’s Word to stand on. He probably traveled at least ten miles before he met his servants who gave him the good news: “Thy son liveth” (v. 51).

This is a picture of faith toward God. The minute the nobleman took Jesus at His word and headed for home, his son began to amend.

C o n fe s s i o n

I count my healing done—no matter what I see or feel.

My body amends from this very hour.

235

August
18

Amending “From That Hour”

And as he was now

going down, his

a

servants met him,

Jesus told the nobleman, “Thy son liveth”

and told him,

(v. 50). The next day, the servants who met the nobleman on the road home said the same saying, Thy son

thing word for word. When the man believed liveth.

the word Jesus spoke, his son was healed, and Then inquired he of

it changed his entire household.

them the hour when

God’s Word is just as powerful as His physical he began to amend.

presence. If we’ll take Him at His Word, it will And they said unto

do anything He could do if He stood right here in the flesh. That’s what God is trying to teach him, Yesterday at the

His Church.

seventh hour the

Take God at His Word. Believe what He says no fever left him. So the

matter what the situation looks like, sounds father knew that it

like, or feels like.

was at the same

Now, notice that the nobleman inquired the hour…Jesus said

hour his son began to amend. He understood unto him, Thy son

that his son’s healing had been gradual.

liveth: and himself

This is where a lot of people have trouble believed, and his

receiving. Many people stand in healing lines whole house.

then return to their seats thinking, I don’t feel better; guess I didn’t get anything. These people —John 4:51-53

think all healings have to be instant.

Instant healings are available, but it’s just as scriptural to amend “from that hour.” The truth is, more people are healed gradually than instantly. All we should care about is that God heals us—whether it takes minutes, hours, or longer.

C o n fe s s i o n

The minute I take God at His Word, my body begins to amend.

236

August
19

Healed as They Went

a

And as he entered

into a certain

The ten lepers cried out, “Jesus, Master, have village, there met

m e rcy on us.” Appare n t l y, they’d heard of Jesus the Healer because they called Him “Master.” And him ten men that

since faith comes by hearing, they came in faith.

were lepers, which

However, under the Levitical Law, lepers were stood afar off: and

to be stoned if they came within 100 paces of a they lifted up their

healthy human. So these ten lepers stood afar voices, and said,

o ff and cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus Jesus, Master,

instructed them to go show themselves to the have mercy on us.

priests. Verse 14 says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

And when he saw

Did you notice that the lepers weren’t cleansed them, he said unto

until after they went? Many people don’t get them, Go shew

healed because they don’t “went”! They sit yourselves unto

around hoping they will somehow receive a the priests. And it

miracle. Meanwhile, God wants them to believe came to pass, that,

they receive and go their way in faith.

as they went, they

That “went” part was the lepers’ act of faith.

were cleansed.

When Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests, they immediately turned around —Luke 17:12-14

and started on their way. In the natural, their condition wasn’t any better. But when they obeyed Jesus’ words, they were healed.

Likewise, we have to take God at His Word, regardless of what we see or feel, and go our way.

C o n fe s s i o n

Symptoms may seem to keep me “afar off” from victory, but as I go my way—believing—God’s healing power works wholeness in me.

237

August
20

Healing Is the Work of God

…Jesus…saw a man

which was blind

a

from his birth. And

In Jesus’ day, religious people thought if someone were born sick, either the parents his disciples asked

sinned before the child was born or the child him, saying, Master,

sinned in the womb. So the disciples asked who did sin, this

Jesus, “Who sinned—the man or his parents?”

man, or his parents,

Now, Jesus’ response in the King James Version that he was born

is unclear. It sounds as though God made this blind?

man blind just so Jesus could heal him and give God the glory.

Jesus answered,

But, re m e m b e r, the New Testament was origi-Neither hath this nally written in Greek with no punctuation—no man sinned, nor his

periods, no commas. All punctuation was later i n s e rted by Bible translators. There f o re, you parents: but that the

could change a period or question mark without works of God should

changing anything in the original manuscripts.

be made manifest in

So let’s look at this verse another way. “Neither him. I must work the

hath this man sinned, nor his parents [ period].”

works of him that

Jesus answered their question. “But that the sent me.

works of God should be made manifest in him [ comma], I must work the works of him that —John 9:1-4

sent me.”

Changing two punctuation marks, not in the original manuscripts, changes the whole meaning and takes the blame off God. Suddenly the verse lines up with the rest of Scripture.

Jesus did work the works of the One who sent Him all right—and healed the blind man.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus never made anyone sick, but healed all who came to Him in faith. I come to Him now in faith and receive God’s work of healing in my body.

238

August
2 1

Jesus Bore Our Sickness

a

That it might be

fulfilled which

Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sick-was spoken by nesses. Some people have said to me, “Now, Brother, you must realize this verse is talking Esaias the

about a spiritual healing.” But that erroneous prophet, saying,

thinking has put people in early graves. The Himself took our

infirmities and sicknesses God is talking about infirmities, and

here aren’t spiritual in nature. Just back up bare our

about four verses, and you’ll see what Jesus did to fulfill that Old Testament Scripture.

sicknesses.

A centurion had come to Jesus and said, “My —Matthew 8:17

servant is home sick of the palsy. Just speak the Word and my servant will be healed.” (Matt.

8:8.) “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (v. 13). That’s physical healing.

Then Jesus went to Peter’s house, where Peter’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. “And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them” (v. 15). That’s physical healing.

Finally, verse 16 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.” That’s physical healing.

Then, after all those physical healings, Matthew comes back to verse 17

w h e re we began reading and said Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by physically healing people. That means Jesus bore our physical infirm i t i e s on the Cross so we could live healthy and whole all the days of our lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus paid for my sins and sicknesses.

I’m free because He already bore them for me.

239

August
22

Let God Use You To Heal the Sick

And he said unto

them, Go ye into

a

Jesus listed several signs that are to follow all the world, and

those who believe in Him. One important sign preach the gospel

is that “they shall lay hands on the sick, and to every creature.

they shall recover.” This sign is not just for And these signs

preachers. It’s for all believers.

shall follow them

Some say, “Well, I don’t know why God never that believe; In my

uses me that way.” I made the mistake of think-name…they shall ing that one time. I read that Scripture and thought, Boy, I don’t know why God never uses lay hands on the

me to heal anyone. He never works through me sick, and they

to lay hands on the sick.

shall recover.

But then I got quiet for a minute. (You know, if —Mark

you’ll get quiet, you’ll receive some answers.) All

16:15,17,18

of a sudden, I heard down on the inside: “How many people have you laid hands on recently?”

Well, that woke me up. I started laying hands on people, and guess what?

They got healed!

If we’ll just be obedient to the Word, it will work. We don’t have to wonder why God never uses us. As we start laying hands on the sick, He will. It’s up to us. It’s our job. Healing the sick is part of the Gospel, and we’re to take the Gospel into all the world.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a believer, so I expect signs to follow me according to the Word.

When I lay hands on the sick, they are healed.

God’s Word works in me, for me, and through me.

240

August
2 3

Tell the World, “God Wants You Well!”

a

In the beginning

was the Word,

Jesus Christ was the Word that became flesh and the Word

and dwelt among us. During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed all who came to Him in faith.

was with God,

Now we have the written Word, and it’s full of and the Word

healing from one end to the other.

was God.

No wonder God said, “He sent his word, and And the Word

healed them, and delivered them from their was made flesh,

destructions” (Ps. 107:20). No wonder He said, and dwelt

“Attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; among us….

keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they —John 1:1,14

are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:20-22).

If we take time to read and study the Word, the revelation knowledge that God wants us healthy will become a part of us.

We’ll be able to step into a life of divine health. You see, we can only receive healing by faith when we know it’s God’s will to heal us because faith is believing God’s known will and acting like it’s true. We have to know the Word says healing is ours.

Jesus, the Word made flesh, was sent to heal us. When we received Him as Savior, Jesus also became our Healer. Now, by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we’ve been given the Word in written form. And no matter how we look at it, we’ll find healing from every angle. Jesus is the Word, and Jesus is the Healer.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word was sent to heal me. I keep it before my eyes, and it becomes life and medicine to all my flesh.

241

August
24

Under the Shadow of His Wings

But unto you that

fear my name

a

One day I was meditating on the Word, when shall the Sun of

suddenly this Scripture rose up in me. I got to righteousness arise

thinking, Who is the “Sun of righteousness”?

with healing in

Jesus! Then I thought, Glory to God! He arose his wings….

with healing in His wings.

—Malachi 4:2

I asked the Lord, “Why is healing in His wings, and how do I get under those wings?”

I remembered Psalm 91:1-4 AMP:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust.

For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge.

You find refuge under God’s wings when you say, “Thank God for Jesus!

He’s my refuge, my fortress, my healer, and my Savior.” Once you’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, you’re under His wings full of healing. So just reach out and grab hold!

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus, my God, my healer, my refuge, my fortress.

He arose with healing in His wings, and I take refuge under those wings. I put my trust in the Sun of righteousness and His healing power.

242

August
25

Present Your Body a Living Sacrifice

a

I beseech you

therefore,

Paul tells us here to present our bodies as a living brethren, by the

sacrifice to God. It’s interesting to note what God says about sacrifices in Malachi 1:7-8,13.

mercies of God,

that ye present

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In your bodies a

that ye say, The table of the Lord is con-living sacrifice, temptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacri-holy, acceptable fice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and unto God, which

sick, is it not evil?…

is your

…And ye brought that which was torn, and reasonable

the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an service.

offering: should I accept this of your hand?

saith the Lord.

—Romans 12:1

God isn’t saying He gets angry with us when we present our sick, broken, lame bodies as a sacrifice to Him. He’s saying we need to line our bodies up with His Word and believe that Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. Then we can present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him, and He’ll make them whole.

He said in His Word that by Jesus’ stripes, you were healed. So just begin to believe that in your heart, say it with your mouth, and act like it’s true.

Then you can present your body as a living sacrifice, no matter what it looks like or feels like, and the power of God will make it whole.

C o n fe s s i o n

I present my body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, believing I’m healed because Jesus took my sicknesses and carried my pains.

243

August
26

In Remembrance

…Jesus…took bread:

and when he had

a

given thanks, he

In Exodus 12, God told His people living in brake it, and said,

Egypt in bondage, “Slay a spotless lamb and put its blood on the doorposts; then roast it and eat Take, eat: this is my

it. But before you do, pack your bags, put your body, which is

marching shoes on, and get ready to travel broken for you: this

because you’re coming out of bondage.”

do in remembrance

As the Israelites ate the Passover lamb, they of me. After the same

looked ahead to the redemptive work Jesus manner also he took

would accomplish on the Cross. Under the new the cup, when he

covenant, we take Communion to remember had supped, saying,

what Jesus already accomplished for us.

This cup is the new

We also were once trapped in bondage, but the testament in my

p e rfect Lamb shed His blood to redeem us.

blood: this do ye, as

T h e re f o re, God’s message to us is similar to oft as ye drink it, in

what He told the Israelites. He says to us, “When remembrance of me.

you partake of Communion, put your marc h i n g For as often as ye

shoes on, and get ready to come out of bondage!”

eat this bread, and

Communion services should be some of the drink this cup, ye do

biggest healing rallies around because we shew the Lord’s

should partake of the emblems, saying, “Thank death till he come.

You, Jesus, by Your shed blood my sins are washed away. By Your broken body, I’m healed.

—1 Corinthians

And by Your chastisement, I have peace of

11:23-26

mind.” (Isa. 53:5.)

C o n fe s s i o n

On the Cross, Jesus freed me from every yoke of bondage.

In remembrance, I thank You, Jesus, for the price You’ve paid.

244

August
27

Seated in Heavenly Places

a

Even when we

were dead in

We ’ re seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

sins, hath

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God…who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in quickened us

heavenly places in Christ.” We ’ re blessed to be a together with

p a rt of the body of Christ because all things Christ, (by grace

have been put under His feet. We may just be ye are saved;)

the skin on the bottom of the left foot; but sick-and hath raised ness is still beneath us, and we walk on top of it!

us up together,

Sickness cannot exist in heavenly places, and that’s where we are. That’s the way God looks and made us sit

at us. When we beg or plead for healing, He together in

doesn’t know what we’re talking about. He sees heavenly places

every satanic bondage beneath our feet.

in Christ Jesus.

Sickness keeps trying to crawl up on the body of Christ, but it’s up to us to resist it. James 4:7

—Ephesians

says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from

2:5,6

you.” And Paul exhorts us never to give place to the devil. (Eph. 4:27.)

Jesus gave us all authority over the devil. He told His disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore” (Matt.

28:18,19). He also said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

Jesus has overcome the enemy, so keep sickness under your feet where it belongs. Refuse to let the devil rob you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m part of the body of Christ, seated with Jesus in heavenly places. Sickness is under my feet.

245

August
28

Draw Strength From Jesus

I can do all things

through Christ

a

Jesus Christ is our strength. Yet, when sickness which

has tried to attach itself to me, it hasn’t given strengtheneth me.

me strength; it’s drawn strength out of me. But —Philippians 4:13

then I turn to the promises in God’s Word. As I continually keep my eyes on Jesus and draw strength from Him, sickness has to go.

In the Old Testament, when the children of Israel were bitten by serpents, they had to look steadfastly at the brass serpent on the pole in order to be healed. (Num. 21:8,9.) That brass serpent was a type of Jesus who became sin for us when He hung on the Cross. (2 Cor. 5:21.) If we fix our gaze upon Jesus and His redemptive work, we also can receive healing.

Yet that means we must look at Him—not at symptoms. The reason some have trouble getting rid of symptoms is because they spend too much time looking at them. Second Corinthians 4:18 says, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which a re seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

That which is seen is temporal, or subject to change. That which is not seen is eternal, or not subject to change. In other words, we could say, “For we look not at the symptoms but at the promises of God’s Word because symptoms are subject to change according to the promises of God’s Word.”

C o n fe s s i o n

As I keep my eyes on Jesus, circumstances and symptoms must change. God’s Word will never change. I attend to God’s Word, and it’s life and medicine to my flesh.

246

August
29

Don’t Accept the Devil’s Package

a

Submit

yourselves

If the devil is trying to put symptoms on you, therefore to God.

you have the authority to make him go away.

Resist the devil,

The reason Christians have so much trouble and he will flee

getting rid of sickness and disease is because they accept the symptoms to begin with. The from you.

devil rings the front doorbell delivering the —James 4:7

package. Then some folks say, “Oh, let’s see— watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat, headache.

Yes, I do believe I’m getting the flu!” They sign for the package and then suddenly say, “Hey, wait a minute! I don’t want this!” But once received, the package is difficult to give back.

So when sickness comes knocking on your door, remember not to accept the package. Say, “Let’s see—watery eyes, runny nose, headache, s o re throat. No, no, no! I won’t take it. Devil, I resist you in the name of Jesus! You won’t give that to me! I’ve been redeemed from povert y, sickness, and death. In the name of Jesus, you take your symptoms and get out of here!”

You have the authority to do that. So take your stand against the enemy.

Refuse every package of symptoms he tries to deliver to your doorstep.

C o n fe s s i o n

I rebuke sickness when it tries to come on me.

I exercise my faith when I first notice symptoms, and those symptoms have to go, in Jesus’ name.

247

August
30

Fear Not—Only Believe

For God hath not

given us the spirit

a

Do you know what happens when you fear of fear; but of

something? Job tells you in Job 3:25: “For the power, and of

thing which I greatly feared is come upon love, and of a

me….” Fear opens the door for the very things sound mind.

you fear to enter your life.

—2 Timothy 1:7

Fear often opens the door to sickness by producing worry. In fact, about 80 percent of hospital patients got there because of worry. They say, “I’m afraid I’ll catch the flu,” or “I’m afraid I’ll get cancer,” or “I’m afraid I’ll have an accident.” They continually confess, “I’m afraid of this; I’m afraid of that.”

The Bible says, “Fear not; only believe.” (Luke 8:50.) You see, you can’t fear and believe at the same time. Fear opens the door to the devil and gives him room to move. In fact, fear is faith in the devil. Fear receives the worst the enemy comes up with. Faith in God receives the best God has for you.

But fear can’t just latch onto you. It has to present itself to you; then it’s up to you whether you receive it or resist it.

So when fear hits you, realize you have the ability to get rid of it. You can say, “Fear, I resist you in the name of Jesus! You’ll have no part of me, and I’ll have no part of you!”

It’s your choice. If you’re experiencing all kinds of fear in your life, don’t focus on the fear. Just get full of God’s Word, and the fears will disappear.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus said, “Fear not; only believe.”

I do not fear sickness, for God sent His Word to heal me.

248

August
31

Know God’s Will

a

Now faith is the

substance of

It’s important to know God’s will regarding the things hoped for,

healing you need because faith only operates on God’s known will.

the evidence of

things not seen.

For example, if I told you I had $1000 in my pocket, you wouldn’t come running over to me —Hebrews 11:1

to get it because I never promised I’d give it to you. You’d realize I had the money, but that wouldn’t necessarily mean it was for you.

But suppose I said to you, “I have $1000 in my pocket, and I want to give it to you. Just come and get it.” At that point, you’d have my promise as a foundation for your faith. And undoubtedly you’d quickly take hold of my promise and come receive your money. Once you knew my will on the matter, you would be confident to receive or operate in faith.

It’s the same way with God. You can’t operate in faith until you know what His will is in a matter. But as you go through His Word, you can find His will concerning anything you need, including healing. You can find out Jesus took your infirmities and bore your sicknesses. You can discover by Jesus’ stripes, you are healed. You can know beyond a shadow of a doubt God wants you well.

C o n fe s s i o n

I know absolutely and without a doubt God’s will for me regarding healing. Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses because my Father wants me well.

249

September
1

Faith Turns God Loose

And, behold, there

cometh one of the

a

Jesus started walking with Jairus toward his rulers of the

house. About that time, the woman with the synagogue, Jairus by

issue of blood came up behind Him and name; and when he

touched the hem of His garment. Jesus turned saw him, he fell at

and asked, “Who touched Me?” The woman fell his feet, and besought

down and told Jesus how she’d been healed.

him greatly, saying,

(Mark 5:25-33.)

My little daughter

All this was going on while Jairus’ daughter lieth at the point of

was at home near death. When Jesus finished with the woman, they all started again toward death: I pray thee,

Jairus’ house. But just then someone came come and lay thy

running from Jairus’ home, saying, “It’s too hands on her, that

late. Your daughter has died.”

she may be healed;

Jesus immediately turned to Jairus and made a and she shall live.

profound statement: “Fear not; only believe.”

And Jesus went

Jesus laid out a choice for Jairus, telling him, with him….

“If you keep operating in faith, your child will be healed. But if you step over into fear, you —Mark 5:22-24

shut off My power.”

You see, our words open the door for the devil to attack us. Proverbs 6:2 says, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”

But Jairus made the right choice. He didn’t speak one word of doubt or fear, and his little girl was raised from the dead. His faith turned God loose to work in his daughter’s life.

C o n fe s s i o n

I refuse to allow fear in my life. I speak words of life and truth that turn God loose to work in my behalf.

250

September
2

Paul’s “Thorn”—Persecution

a

And lest I should be

exalted above

The subject of Paul’s thorn is a common arg u m e n t measure through

against healing. Many have taught Paul’s thorn the abundance of

was a disease in his body. But in context, you can the revelations,

see that Paul was talking about p e r s e c u t i o n s : there was given to

Of the Jews five times received I forty me a thorn in the

stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with flesh, the messenger

rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered of Satan to buffet

shipwreck, a night and a day I have been me, lest I should be

in the deep.

exalted above

In weariness and painfulness, in watch-measure.

ings often, in hunger and thirst, in fast-For this thing I ings often, in cold and nakedness.

besought the Lord

2 Corinthians 11:24-25,27

thrice, that it might

Unquestionably, there were many persecutions depart from me.

in one form or another. Every place Paul went, And he said unto

there was a spirit stirring people up to perse-me, My grace is cute him. But Paul never said anything to indi-sufficient for thee: cate his thorn in the flesh was even remotely for my strength is

connected to disease.

made perfect in

H o w e v e r, Paul did say the thorn was a messenger weakness.

of Satan, n o t a messenger of God: “There was Most gladly

given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of therefore will I

Satan to buffet me.” So we see that Paul’s thorn rather glory in my

w a s n ’t disease and it wasn’t from God.

infirmities, that the

power of Christ

C o n fe s s i o n

may rest upon me.

P a u l ’s thorn wasn’t from God and neither are —2 Corinthians

diseases that attack me. I overcome the devil in

12:7-9

e v e ry situation, and I’m the healed of the Lord.

251

September
3

Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

And lest I should

be exalted above

a

People have been telling me for years that Paul’s measure through

“ t h o rn in the flesh” was sickness. Some say it was the abundance of

an eye disease God gave him to keep him humble.

the revelations,

But that explanation contradicts the Scriptures.

there was given

How was Paul exalted? He received visions and to me a thorn in

revelations from the Lord. God revealed to him the flesh, the

great mysteries, which those who walked and messenger of

talked with Jesus for three years didn’t yet Satan to buffet me,

understand. Paul was also in the process of writing two-thirds of the New Testament, which lest I should be

we live by today.

exalted above

Paul said, “There was given to me a thorn in the measure.

flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me.” We l l , —2 Corinthians

God wouldn’t have sent a messenger of Satan to

12:7

Paul. And God certainly wasn’t going to exalt Paul by giving him visions and revelations just to make him sick and to keep him from being exalted.

The word messenger in the original Greek is the word “angelos.” It refers to an angel or “one sent.”1 In this case, it refers to a demon spirit Satan sent to harass Paul. Satan wanted to hinder Paul any way he could because he knew those who read Paul’s letters would follow his Holy Spirit-inspired instructions and walk in victory. So let’s defeat Satan’s purpose and start walking in God’s victory today.

C o n fe s s i o n

God didn’t send sickness to humble Paul, and He doesn’t send sickness to humble me. I rebuke disease in Jesus’ name, for it has no part in God’s will for me. I receive healing that belongs to me.

252

September
4

His Grace Is Sufficient

a

For this thing I

besought the Lord

Some people interpret this Scripture by saying, thrice, that it

“After Paul prayed three times, God replied, might depart from

‘No, I want you to keep that thorn. You need it to keep you humble and pious.’”

me. And he said

But that isn’t what God meant. God said, “My unto me, My grace

grace is sufficient for thee.”

is sufficient for

What is God’s grace? It’s God’s unmerited favor thee: for my

given to us in the form of His Word, name, strength is made

Spirit, healing, power, and authority. God’s perfect in

grace is the source of the unmerited blessings weakness.

He sent us through Jesus Christ. We didn’t deserve any of those blessings, but Jesus made Most gladly

us righteous so we could deserve them. That’s therefore will I

the measure of God’s grace, and He told Paul, rather glory in my

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”

infirmities, that the

One aspect of God’s grace is the name of Jesus.

power of Christ

Jesus delegated His authority, might, and may rest upon me.

dominion to us through His name. Then He said in Mark 16:17, “In my name shall [believ-

—2 Corinthians

ers] cast out devils.”

12:8,9

Jesus was telling Paul, “Look, I’ve given you everything you need to get rid of that evil messenger. Take authority over it. My grace is sufficient for you. But don’t go after that messenger of Satan in your own strength—go in Mine. Use My strength to resist the devil in Jesus’ name, and he’ll flee from you!”

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s grace is also sufficient for me. He’s given me the name of Jesus, which is greater than any power that comes against me.

I’m healed and strong in Jesus’ name.

253

September
5

The End Result

Now a certain

man was sick,

a

D o n ’t misunderstand Jesus’ comment about named Lazarus, of

L a z a rus’ sickness. Jesus was n o t s a y i n g , Bethany, the town

“Lazarus’ sickness isn’t unto death; neverthe-of Mary and her less, he’s suffering with this sickness to bring sister Martha.

God glory.”

Therefore his

If we’re not careful, we can get confused sisters sent unto

because we don’t study the Word enough to him, saying, Lord,

rightly divide it. Jesus wasn’t talking about the problem; He was talking about the end result.

behold, he whom

Jesus always talked about the end result. He thou lovest is sick.

was saying here, “The end result of this sick-When Jesus heard ness will not be death but the glory of God.”

that, he said, This

Again in John 11:40, Jesus told Martha, “I told sickness is not

you if you’d believe, you’d see the glory of God.”

unto death, but for

The sickness took Lazarus’ life for a while, but his life was given back to him when Jesus the glory of God,

raised him from the dead. Thus, Lazarus’ sick-that the Son of ness wasn’t for God’s glory; it was his resurrec-God might be tion from the dead that brought God glory. That glorified thereby.

was the end result.

—John 11:1,3,4

C o n fe s s i o n

God is glorified when I’m healed and walking in health.

The end result of my life will be to God’s glory. I walk in health and run my race, and I will finish my course with joy.

254

September
6

Speak the Word and Go Your Way

a

And on the

morrow, when

Jesus came to a fig tree looking for fruit, but they were come

there was no fruit. So He cursed the fig tree and from Bethany, he

just walked away.

was hungry: and

We can learn a faith lesson here. Although the t ree didn’t change immediately, Jesus didn’t seeing a fig tree

wonder whether His words had worked. He afar off having

just walked away in faith knowing His word s leaves, he came, if

w e re working.

haply he might

When they returned from Jerusalem the next find any thing

day, His disciples said, “Master, the fig tree you thereon: and when

cursed is withered away! It died from the he came to it, he

roots!” (v. 21.) Of course!

found nothing but

Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” You see, it didn’t matter leaves; for the time

what Jesus saw. It was what He believed that of figs was not yet.

made the difference.

And Jesus

T h a t ’s the very basis of faith. Faith is walking by answered and said

what God says instead of what you see— b e c a u s e unto it, No man

what God says will change what you see!

eat fruit of thee

Faith is placing your confidence in the tru t h .

hereafter for ever.

Romans 3:4 says, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar….” In John 17:17 Jesus says, “Thy —Mark 11:12-14

w o rd is truth.” The only real truth we find in this world is the Wo rd of God, and it takes pre c edence above experiences, opinions, or doctrines.

Speak words of faith, and your words will surely come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

I speak in faith over my body and call myself healed, whole, well, strong, and victorious.

255

September
7

Have the Faith of God

And in the morning,

as they passed by,

a

they saw the fig tree

Jesus was about to teach His disciples about faith. I can’t think of a better Bible subject to get dried up from the

ahold of than faith. It touches every other area roots. And Peter

of life. Everything we do should be in faith, “for calling to

whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23).

remembrance saith

Faith is the easiest thing in the world to under-unto him, Master, stand. When faith is taught, little childre n behold, the fig tree

usually understand it first; then they teach the which thou cursedst

adults. Faith is so simple most adults spend is withered away.

their time trying to figure it out. They think, It can’t be that simple.

And Jesus

But Jesus made things simple for us. He taught answering saith

about everyday things, such as fishing and unto them, Have

farming. He explained spiritual principles so faith in God.

everyone could understand them.

—Mark 11:20-22

Jesus started the faith lesson to the disciples by saying, “Have faith in God.” That’s easy. After all, God is the One who works miracles. He’s the One who heals bodies.

H e ’s the One who purchased all things that pertain to life and godliness.

T h e re f o re, our faith is to be placed in Him.

Margin notes for Mark 11:22 in some Bibles say, “Have the faith of God.”

In other words, Jesus is telling us, “God gave you the same kind of faith He has, and it will operate for you the same way it operates for Him.”

After all, you’re the child of a faith God.

C o n fe s s i o n

As God’s child, I have the God-kind of faith, and I use that faith to call my body well.

256

September
8

You Have the Faith To Receive

a

And Jesus

answering saith

Here Jesus gives us the two basic foundational unto them, Have

principles of operating in faith: believing in the faith in God. For

heart and saying with the mouth.

verily I say unto

Have you ever thought the believing part you, That

sounded hard? People say all the time, “Oh, it’s so hard to believe. I wish I could believe God.”

whosoever shall say

One fellow replied to that comment, “Well, if unto this mountain,

you can’t believe, you ought to get saved.” Let Be thou removed,

me explain what he meant by that.

and be thou cast

Ephesians 2:8 tells us how we get saved: “For into the sea; and

by grace are ye saved through faith; and that shall not doubt in

not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Then his heart, but shall

Romans 10:10 says, “With the h e a rt man believe that those

b e l i e v e t h unto righteousness; and with the things which he

mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

saith shall come

So the simple fact that you’re saved proves you to pass; he shall

have faith. You’ve already used your faith to have whatsoever

believe God for the biggest miracle in existence— the new birt h . When you were born again, God he saith.

took out that heart of stone and put in a heart of —Mark 11:22,23

flesh, giving you a brand-new spirit.

You used your faith to receive the gift of salvation. That proves you have the ability to believe God. Now it’s just a matter of learning how to point your faith in another direction to receive God’s other benefits and blessings.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ve already believed and received salvation. Now, I believe and receive healing just as easily as I received eternal life.

257

September
9

Faith Is of the Heart

For verily I say

unto you, That

a

Let’s consider the two major principles of faith whosoever shall say

in this verse: believing in the heart and saying unto this mountain,

with the mouth.

Be thou removed,

People often make mistakes in the believing and be thou cast

side of faith. You see, real faith is of the heart, into the sea; and

not the head. Romans 10:10 confirms this, shall not doubt in

saying, “For with the heart man believeth unto his heart, but shall

righteousness….”

believe that those

Now, it’s important to understand that you can things which he

have faith in your heart with doubts in your head. For instance, I find Scriptures that cover saith shall come

my need, then I believe I receive what God has to pass; he shall

promised. On the inside, I have peace and rest, have whatsoever

knowing I’m in faith. But at the same time, he saith.

doubts hit my mind like machine gun bullets: What if it doesn’t work? It’s not working.

—Mark 11:23

When doubts start coming to your mind, it’s easy to think, Well, I thought I believed, but I guess I didn’t. But just realize those doubts aren’t yours. Cast them down and get rid of them in the name of Jesus. Don’t try to believe with your head, or your faith will be up and down like a yo-yo.

Remember, it’s with the heart—or spirit—that man believes. So if your mind gives you fits when you stand in faith, just shut your mind off and follow what’s in your spirit.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe with my heart and refuse to allow doubts to hinder me.

I pray for healing—and despite what I feel or see—I believe I’m healed.

258

September
1 0

The Power of Words

a

…Whosoever

shall say unto

Years ago I heard a minister teaching on faith, this mountain,

and he said something that got my attention.

Once as he was meditating on Mark 11:23, the Be thou

Spirit of God spoke to his spirit and asked, Did removed, and be

you notice that in Mark 11:23, Jesus talked thou cast into

about saying three times as much as believing?

the sea; and

The minister said, “Appare n t l y, we need to hear shall not doubt

about s a y i n g t h ree times more than we need to in his heart, but

hear about b e l i e v i n g . And if we’re having tro u b l e in our faith walk, it’s three times more likely to shall believe that

be in the saying part than in the believing part.”

those things

Why? Because we’re a direct result of our which he saith

words. Our lives today are a direct result of shall come to

what we’ve been saying up until now. And what pass; he shall

we say today is what we will be or have tomor-have whatsoever row. So as someone once said, “If you don’t like what you are, quit saying what you’re saying.”

he saith.

This is not “mind over matter” or “mind science”; —Mark 11:23

these are Bible truths. Hebrews 11:3 says, “ T h rough faith we understand that the worlds w e re framed by the word of God….” How did God create the earth? B y H i s w o rd s . “God said, Let there be light: and there was light” and so on.

(Gen. 1:3.) How did God bring this to pass? By speaking.

How do we operate in faith? We also believe and say—which ultimately determines our lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

The words I speak today create who I’ll be and what I’ll have tomorrow. I speak healing and abundance in my life.

259

September
11

Change From the Inside Out

Man shall not live

by bread alone,

a

Man is a three-part being: He is a spirit, he has but by every word

a soul, and he lives in a body. The Bible also of God.

describes man as having an inward man and an —Luke 4:4

outward man. (2 Cor. 4:16.)

The outward man is your flesh or “earth suit,”

and it’s the vessel you live in that keeps you here on this earth. The outward man, which includes the soul and the body, is the part of you everyone sees.

The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor.

5:17). Where are old things passed away? In your spirit. You have the same body and mind you had before you were saved. Your body has to be healed, and your mind has to be renewed through God’s Word. However, your inner man is a brand-new creation.

The inward man is the spirit man. The outward man is simply a reflec-tion of the inward man. So if I have problems in my flesh, I better make adjustments in the inward man because those inside changes reflect on the outside.

For instance, suppose you have health problems. What should you do?

Meditate on healing scriptures until they’re planted deep in your spirit.

Jesus said, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears” (Luke 9:44).

When you get full of the Word on the inside, it will show up on the outside, bringing health to your body.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word works mightily in my spirit, bringing health to my body.

260

September
1 2

Locate Your Faith

a

A good man out

of the good

You can locate your faith by your own words.

treasure of his

Your words are your faith speaking.

heart bringeth

Now, it’s good practice to consciously speak good words over your circumstances. But if you forth that which

want to find out where you really are in your is good; and an

faith walk—or why some things aren’t going evil man out of

right in your life—then listen to yourself talk the evil treasure

when the pressure is on. See what comes out of of his heart

your mouth when you’re not making a conscious effort to speak something good. In other bringeth forth

words, see what comes out of the abundance of that which is

your heart. Then you’ll know if you need to evil: for of the

make some adjustments.

abundance of

It’s like a bank account. The bank sends you a the heart his

statement each month. If you want them to add mouth speaketh.

more to the final balance, what do you do? Put more money in the bank, and the next state-

—Luke 6:45

ment will show the difference.

It’s the same way spiritually. When you want something to show up outside, deposit the treasures of God’s Word inside. Feed on the Word continually. Treat your inner man like a bank vault and just keep depositing God’s Word in there. Once the Word is deposited in your inner man, you’ll believe it; once you believe it, you’ll say it. And then your entire being will reflect the treasure of God’s Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

I deposit healing Scriptures in my heart. I don’t talk about symptoms, even when the pressure is on. I open my mouth and say, “Thank You, Father. Your healing power is working in me.”

261

September
13

What Are You Believing?

…for of the

abundance of the

a

Usually you can find out why a person is strug-heart his mouth gling in faith just by listening to him for a few speaketh.

minutes. For instance, people have come up to —Luke 6:45

me after being prayed for in a healing line and said, “Well, I still have such-and-such in my body. I don’t know why I can’t get rid of it.”

I want to say, “You just told me why you haven’t gotten rid of your condition!” You see, they’re believing they can’t get rid of it.

I’ve had other folks say, “I never get healed. When someone prays for me, I never receive anything.” These people receive nothing because nothing is exactly what they’re believing for.

When people come to receive prayer, they ought to be saying, “I’ve come to get rid of these symptoms.”

“What do you have?”

“Well, I don’t ‘have’ anything, but the devil is trying to put symptoms of sickness on me. I’ve come to get rid of them. You lay hands on me in the name of Jesus, and I’ll receive my healing!”

Not only can we locate other people’s faith by their words, but we can also discover what we really believe as we listen to our own words.

When things aren’t working right, we must listen to what we say.

Our words are important. If we can get our thinking, believing, and speaking straightened out, our lives will get straightened out. It may not happen instantly, but it will come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe and speak that by Jesus’ stripes I am healed.

These faith-filled words are working in my body even now.

262

September
14

Choose Words of Life

a

Death and life

are in the power

Sometimes Christians take God’s sovereignty of the tongue:

too far. They think they’re supposed to walk through life “rolling with the punches,” taking and they that

whatever comes. I did that for years. But I got love it shall eat

punched most of the time and spent the rest of the fruit thereof.

my time rolling.

—Proverbs 18:21

No, we choose in life whether we walk in blessing or cursing. We’re not puppets. God doesn’t arbitrarily decide who gets His blessings and who doesn’t. We aren’t supposed to walk around wondering what God has for us on this earth. God has already told us what He has for us. It’s all written in the pages of the Bible.

God gives us a choice to either accept or reject His blessings.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” The choice is ours.

But how do we choose between death or life, blessing or cursing?

Proverbs 18:21 tells us: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue….”

We make the choice between death or life by what we say.

Now, I didn’t say that— God did. Our tongues point us in one direction or the other. They’re like the rudders on ships. The direction we turn them is the direction our bodies and lives will go. That’s why it’s so important that we choose words of life.

C o n fe s s i o n

My future is affected by the words I speak today. Therefore, I choose to speak God’s Word over my life, circumstances, and body. And I say I’m blessed, healthy, and victorious.

263

September
15

Control Your Mouth—Control Your Life

…If anyone does

not offend in

a

In the last part of this verse, James says, “If speech [never says

you can control your mouth, you can contro l the wrong things],

your body and your entire nature.” That’s a he is a fully

s t rong statement.

developed

In verse 3 AMP, we learn more about the tongue: character and a

“If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make perfect man, able

them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies to control his

about.” Now, I’m not a horseman, but I know whole body and

horses are too big to grab around the neck and to curb his

pull around wherever you want. However, if you put a bit in a horse’s mouth, you can control entire nature.

the direction it goes.

—James 3:2 AMP

James continues: “Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines” (v. 4 AMP). Ships are big, and winds are strong. But when you control the rudder, you control where the ship goes.

Think about it this way: A horse wants to go a particular direction by its own inner will. A ship has no will, but outside forces, such as wind and waves, t ry to drive it. So, putting a bit in a horse’s mouth and directing a ship by its rudder are examples of controlling inside desires and outside forces.

Apply this to your life. No matter whether you face problems from within or forces from without, control your tongue and you’ll control your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

My words control my life. So I say I’m headed straight toward victory.

264

September
1 6

Control Your Tongue With God’s Word

a

Even so the

tongue is a little

James is saying a spark can set a forest ablaze to member, and it

d e s t roy it or set a fire ablaze to keep us warm. In other words, we can use our tongues to destro y can boast of

ourselves or make ourselves victorious.

great things. See

Our words will make us or break us. If we allow how much wood

our tongues to speak words of doubt and com-or how great a plaint, they will defeat us every time. But when forest a tiny

we line up our words with God’s Word, our spark can

tongues will put us over every time—no matter set ablaze.

what comes against us.

—James 3:5 AMP

Sometimes Christians are the most negative people in the world. Many say things like, “I’m just an unworthy worm,” or “Here I wander like a beggar through the heat and the cold.”

We used to think we were being humble and spiritual when we talked like that. But what we thought was humility was really spiritual pride.

To be spiritual is to line up with God’s Word. True humility is admitting God knows more than we do. True humility says, “I don’t feel worthy or righteous. But, Lord, if You said I’m the righteousness of God in Christ, then I must be. I’m going to humble myself to Your Word and believe what You said, no matter what I feel.” (Rom. 3:22.) So make a decision to line your words up with the Word of God in every area of your life!

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word says I have abundant life, health, strength, and victory.

And God’s Word is working mightily in me right now!

265

September
17

Break out of Captivity With Your Words Thou art snared

with the words of

a

The words of your mouth can snare you. Or, to thy mouth, thou

paraphrase this verse, “Thou art taken captive art taken with the

with the words of thy mouth.” Have you ever words of thy

been in captivity? If so, more than likely your mouth.

words put you there.

—Proverbs 6:2

Job 42:10 bears this out when it explains why Job’s ordeal ended: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”

Job first got himself into trouble through fear: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25). Job was saying, “That which I greatly feared has come upon me. I didn’t have any peace; I didn’t have any rest. I thought my good fortune was too good to be true.”

Many folks say that today. Everything is going well in their lives, but they still speak negative words: “Man, this can’t last. This is too good to be true.” Sometimes they talk themselves right out of the good things that are happening.

Don’t make that mistake. When something good comes into your life, say, “Glory to God! I’m walking in abundant life. Thank God, I’ll just keep right on going from glory to glory!”

C o n fe s s i o n

My life just keeps getting better and better. Blessings are overtaking me more and more. My needs are met; my body is healed. And the best is yet to come.

266

September
1 8

Be Satisfied With Good

a

A man shall be

satisfied with

You could actually say the first phrase of this good by the fruit

verse another way: “A man shall be satisfied with all kinds of good.” But notice this verse of his mouth:

does not say, “A man shall be satisfied with and the

good if it’s God’s will or if God decides to smile recompence of

upon him.”

a man’s hands

I don’t know about you, but I like the promise in shall be

this Scripture because I want to be satisfied rendered

with good.

unto him.

You have a choice between good and evil in life, and that choice is determined by the fruit of —Proverbs 12:14

your mouth. In other Scriptures, God associates “good” with healing. (Acts 10:38; Luke 6:9.) So you could say, “A man shall be satisfied with healing by the fruit of his mouth.”

I’m telling you, there is power in your words. Your mouth can get you over your circumstances and into the blessings of God. Proverbs 18:20

says, “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” (I suggest that you read through Proverbs and see everything God says just in this one book about your words. After all, Proverbs is called the Book of Wisdom.) Now look at Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life….”

Adam had access to eat from the Tree of Life, and so do we—by making our tongues line up with God’s Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m satisfied with good by the fruit of my mouth. I speak God’s Word concerning healing, and those words produce life, strength, and wholeness in my body. Healing is mine now.

267

September
19

Our Words Preserve Us

…God, who

quickeneth the

a

Words are important to God. This Scripture dead, and calleth

says God uses words to call those things that those things which

are not as though they were. Some people say, be not as though

“Well, that’s fine for God, but we shouldn’t be they were.

doing that.” But the Bible says our words are —Romans 4:17

important as well.

First, look at Proverbs 14:3: “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.” Notice it doesn’t say the lips of the wise will pickle them; it says their lips will preserve them.

Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul told the Thessalonian church how he prayed for them: “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul prayed that we’d be preserved blameless while we walk on this earth. But what preserves us from the enemy who wants to steal from, kill, and destroy us? Proverbs 14:3 gives us the answer: “the lips of the wise.”

As our own mouths speak forth God’s wisdom, our faith-filled words will preserve us from the enemy’s strategies arrayed against us. That’s why it’s wise to follow God’s example and call those things that be not as though they were.

C o n fe s s i o n

I call those things that be not as though they were.

In Jesus’ name, I speak healing to my body and health and wholeness to all my flesh.

268

September
2 0

Refrain Your Lips From Evil

a

If thou hast done

foolishly in

What does it mean to “think evil”? You are lifting up thyself,

thinking evil when you dwell on any kind of or if thou hast

thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word.

thought evil, lay

What are you supposed to do if you are guilty of thine hand upon

thinking evil? “Lay thine hand upon thy mouth.” God is telling you, “If you’ve thought thy mouth.

evil, that’s one thing. But don’t verbalize it, or —Proverbs 30:32

you might get it. If you’ve spoken foolishly or thought evil, lay your hand on your mouth.”

Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Sometimes the smartest thing we can do is to keep our mouths shut. James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

So refuse to dwell on evil thoughts of doubt, unbelief, complaint, or worry. Don’t let them come out of your mouth. Be slow to speak. Refrain your lips from doubtful and evil speaking. Put your hand on your mouth if you have to. In fact, do whatever you have to do to make sure your words line up with the Word of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

I speak victory and health to my life and body.

The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are acceptable in Your sight, Father, my strength and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14.) 269

September
21

The Tongue of the Wise

There is that

speaketh like the

a

Our words have a lot to do with our physical piercings of a

healing and health. We have the ability to talk sword: but the

ourselves into all kinds of problems or to speak tongue of the wise

w o rds of faith, which cause miracles to manifest.

is health.

Many times people get sick or don’t receive —Proverbs 12:18

healing because they believe and speak according to natural symptoms. These people may receive temporary relief when they’re prayed for. But if they don’t straighten out what their saying, they’ll eventually find themselves back in the same unhealthy conditions.

These very same people who’ve talked themselves into sickness often say, “I don’t know why God put this on me. I don’t know why He allowed this to happen.”

But God didn’t have anything to do with it. You see, faith is a law, and we operate it with our words—either to our benefit or destruction. Proverbs 12:18 says, “The tongue of the wise is health.” We could turn that around and say, “The tongue of the unwise is sickness.”

It’s your choice. You can operate the law of faith by hooking up your mouth with your symptoms and what the devil tells you. Or you can operate the same law of faith by hooking up your mouth with God’s Word full of blessings. Faith in God works by believing and saying what God says. So speak His words of healing, and receive the healing God has reserved just for you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I speak words of health to my body because the tongue of the wise is health. Disease cannot attach itself to me because Jesus bore my sicknesses and pains so I don’t have to. I walk in excellent health.

270

September
22

Keep Your Soul From Trouble

a

Whoso keepeth

his mouth and

Many people have trouble in their soul, which his tongue

includes the mind, will, and emotions. But God gives the answer right here.

keepeth his soul

We’ve all dealt with doubts and fears at one from troubles.

time or another. Fear often starts as a single —Proverbs 21:23

thought. As we dwell on that thought, it produces fear. And if we continue to dwell on fearful thoughts, fear escalates into panic.

The devil likes to attack your mind with fearful thoughts. He may say, I’m going to kill you. You won’t live out your full life. You’ll get cancer and die.

Most of the time there’s no basis at all for what the enemy is saying to your mind. He doesn’t care. He just wants you to dwell on his evil suggestions long enough for fear to take over.

I finally realized demonic thoughts come to our minds because the devil isn’t big enough to pull off his schemes on his own. He’s trying to convince us to agree with him so he can operate in our lives.

Cast down the enemy’s thoughts the second they come. How do you stop his thoughts? Well, you can’t think one thing while you’re saying something else. So open your mouth and start confessing, ”Glory to God! God sent His Word and healed me and satisfies me with long life. It’s so good to be well!”

When you start speaking God’s Word, thoughts stop and fear leaves. That will keep your soul from trouble.

C o n fe s s i o n

I refuse to allow fear and doubt to control me.

I keep my soul from trouble by speaking God’s Word. I live a long, healthy life, and God will fulfill the number of my days.

271

September
23

Speaking the Word Works

The tongue of the

wise is health.

a

When I was a youth minister in Colorado, we —Proverbs 12:18

scheduled a youth camp in the mountains a couple of times a year. One morning I led a group of teenagers on a hike to the top of a small, nearby mountain. We ate lunch and had a Bible study before we started back.

On the way down, one of the girls stepped on a rock and injured her ankle and foot. When I reached her, her ankle was already swollen. I d i d n ’t know whether she’d broken her foot or sprained it, but she c o u l d n ’t stand on it.

We prayed and some of her pain was relieved. Then another man and I took turns piggybacking the girl down the mountain.

As I carried her, I started talking to her about the power of the tongue. I told h e r, “The Bible says, ‘The tongue of the wise is health.’” I also explained the principles of Mark 11:23—we can have what we say if we believe.

So she started confessing, “Thank God, it’s so good to be healed!” We praised and worshipped God together down the mountain.

About a third of the way down, the girl said, “Put me down!” We sup-ported her as she hobbled for a few minutes. The whole time she kept saying, “Thank God, it’s so good to be healed.” Pretty soon, she took off walking on her own.

The more she walked, the better it got. By the time she got to the bottom, she said, “See you later!” and ran all the way to the bus.

The Word works!

C o n fe s s i o n

In times of pressure, I speak God’s Word and circumstances change.

Thank You, Father, for the power in Your Word that’s healing my body.

272

September
2 4

Pray the Answer, Not the Problem

a

And all things,

whatsoever ye

I was born again right in the middle of the shall ask

Charismatic move. I visited a small full gospel church and was filled with the Holy Ghost. I in prayer,

had a lot of enthusiasm, but I didn’t know much believing, ye

about the Bible.

shall receive.

I prayed constantly at the church so the pastor —Matthew 21:22

finally gave me my own key. The problem was, I didn’t how to pray. Over and over, I prayed, “Dear God, You see how bad my problems are.”

But if anything changed, it was always for the worse.

I had a plaque hanging at home that said “Prayer Changes Things,” but I was saved, filled, and defeated. Everything went wrong. After a year of this, I couldn’t decide whether to throw that plaque away or burn it.

Finally I thought, The answer has to be in the Bible someplace. So I started searching the Scriptures. Matthew 21:22 is the verse that got my attention. Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

This verse was a key that unlocked my understanding of the prayer of faith. Suddenly I realized I’d been talking to God about the problem instead of the answer.

Another key is found in Isaiah 43:26: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together….” I realized God wants to be reminded of what He’s already said about our needs.

So pray God’s answer, then believe you receive it by faith. That’s the true prayer of faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

Father, I put You in remembrance of Your Word.

I thank You because You said by Jesus’ stripes, I was healed.

273

September
25

Choose To Believe God’s Word

How then shall they

call on him in whom

a

they have not

Believing is a result of hearing. Once you hear the Word, you have the ability and the capacity believed? and how

to believe it, but you still have to choose what shall they believe in

you will believe. I’ve seen people hear and hear him of whom they

the Word. But then when the pressure was on, have not heard?

they believed their symptoms instead of what So then faith cometh

God says.

by hearing, and

In John 20, the resurrected Jesus had already hearing by the

appeared to His disciples when Thomas wasn’t present. Before His death, Jesus had told His word of God.

disciples over and over again that He would be —Romans 10:14,17

raised from the dead. After He appeared to the other disciples, they all told Thomas, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

So Thomas had the capacity to believe in Jesus’ resurrection because he’d already heard about it from Jesus and the other disciples. But Thomas made his choice. He said, “Except I shall see in his hand the print of the nails, and put my finger in the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Thomas wasn’t alone in his unbelief. That’s where a lot of folks get in t rouble. We hear the Wo rd but then choose to believe the natural circ u mstances. As a result, we don’t receive the blessings God wants to give us.

Don’t make that mistake. Hear the Word and make a quality decision to believe what you hear. That’s how you’ll keep God’s blessings flowing in your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

I choose to believe God’s Word over adverse circumstances or symptoms. Victory and healing belong to me.

274

September
2 6

Be a Doer of the Word

a

This book of the

law shall not

If you want to walk in the divine health God depart out of thy

desires for you, you’ll have to be a doer of the Word. For one thing, that means meditating on mouth; but thou

God’s healing promises. As you do, you’ll find shalt meditate

His Word getting so big on the inside of you that therein day and

you’ll start acting like a healthy person.

night, that thou

God told Joshua the results he could expect for mayest observe

being diligent in His Word: “For then thou shalt to do according

make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt to all that is

have good success.” Did you notice that it written therein:

doesn’t say, “For then God will make your way for then thou

prosperous”? No, it says, “For you will make your way prosperous.” I’ve also heard it put this shalt make thy

way: “Then you will deal wisely in all the affairs way prosperous,

of life.”

and then thou

God has made health and success available in shalt have

every area of your life. Now He says, “I give you good success.

the wisdom and ability to deal wisely in all the —Joshua 1:8

affairs of life. But it’s your choice whether or not you become a doer of My Word and actually receive what I’ve given you.”

C o n fe s s i o n

I have planted God’s Word in my heart, and that Word is life to me and health to all my flesh. Because I meditate on God’s Word, I deal wisely in all the affairs of life.

275

September
27

“Mutter” the Word

This book of the law

shall not depart out

a

of thy mouth; but

The word meditate means “to read, to study, to thou shalt meditate

think about, to mutter. ”1 Notice the final word in that list of definitions is to mutter—or in other therein day and

words, to keep God’s Word coming out of our night, that thou

mouths.

mayest observe to do

It’s ironic when you stop to think about it. The according to all that

enemy has propagated a theory in this world is written therein:

that people who talk to themselves are going for then thou shalt

crazy. But we Christians ought to be speaking make thy way

the Word to ourselves all the time. We ought to prosperous, and

be meditating on the Word of God continually— then thou shalt have

reading it, studying it, thinking about it, good success.

“chewing on it,” and saying it to ourselves.

—Joshua 1:8

For instance, you can use the time when you’re driving in your car to speak the Word aloud to yourself. You can say: “Thank God, He sent His Word and healed me.

Jesus had compassion on the multitudes, and He healed them all. Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching and preaching and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. And by His stripes I am healed!”

The world might think you’re a little strange when they see you muttering to yourself. But that’s okay. You know something they don’t know— you’re on the edge of a miracle!

C o n fe s s i o n

I keep God’s Word before me and meditate on it day and night.

His Word is seed planted in my heart, and I speak it continually.

God’s Word is working mightily in me to produce a harvest of healing.

276

September
28

The Same Measure of Faith

a

We having the

same spirit of

Paul starts out in this Scripture saying, “We faith, according

having….” I like that. The great apostle Paul was talking to the entire body of Christ, not as it is written, I

just to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, believed, and

and teachers.

therefore have I

Then Paul said, “We having the same spirit of spoken; we also

faith….” We have the same spirit of faith that the apostle Paul had. He had a measure of the believe, and

God-kind of faith, and we have the same therefore speak.

measure and the same faith.

—2 Corinthians

God didn’t give Paul a greater dose of faith than He gave us. If He did, He’d be a respecter of

4:13

persons because the Bible says, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). If God gave Paul a greater dose, Paul would’ve had a greater ability to overcome the devil’s attacks.

But no, God gave each and every one of us the same exact dose, or measure, of the God-kind of faith. (Rom. 12:3.) But it’s up to us what we do with it.

Think about how muscles work. Think back on a time when you physically exerted yourself exercising or doing yard work and discovered a muscle you hadn’t used for a while. Maybe it hurt for a few days, having become weak from lack of use. Yet if you exercise that muscle every day, it will grow in size and strength.

Faith is also like a muscle. So keep your faith working all the time, and it will grow to overcome any and every obstacle.

C o n fe s s i o n

I exercise my faith by believing God’s promises.

I’m free from all disease. Praise God, it’s good to be well.

277

September
29

Exercise Your Faith

We having the

same spirit of

a

Our capacity to operate in faith comes from faith, according

hearing God’s Word. However, our faith doesn’t as it is written,

grow because we hear. We can feed and feed a I believed, and

muscle, but it only grows in strength as we therefore have I

exercise it.

spoken; we also

Faith is the same way. All over the world believ-believe, and ers sit back in their church pews week after therefore speak.

week, just hearing and hearing the Word. Then they can’t figure out why their faith doesn’t —2 Corinthians

work for them. I could tell them why: They’re

4:13

not using their faith.

Our faith needs to be working on something all the time. When one answer comes in, our faith should still be out working in four or five other areas. We have to keep our faith muscles flexed.

Then when a new problem arises, we won’t flinch and say, “Oh, Lord, what am I going to do?” We’ll look it square in the face and say, “Thank God, another opportunity to exercise my faith.”

We don’t like problems, and God doesn’t send them. But we can take anything the devil throws against us and turn it around for our good. We can use our faith to push problems away from us like a weight lifter uses weights. Every time he pushes the weights away, he gets stronger.

So the next time a problem comes along, count it all joy. Consider it one more opportunity to prove God’s Word works. Your faith will drive the problem away and come out stronger than ever.

C o n fe s s i o n

When symptoms come against me, I count it all joy. The Word was sent to heal me, and it’s working mightily in me right now.

278

September
30

The Connection Between

Saying and Believing

a

We having the same

spirit of faith,

according as it is

I heard a minister say, “Any time you see a written, I believed,

therefore in the Bible, stop and see what it’s there for. ” In this verse, Paul uses the word and therefore have I

therefore to combine the two parts of faith: “I spoken; we also

believed and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and

believe, and therefore speak. ”

therefore speak.

If we’re going to believe something, we also —2 Corinthians 4:13

have to speak it; believing alone doesn’t make it come to pass.

Jesus said, “If you believe in your heart that what you say will come to pass, you’ll have whatever you say.” (Mark 11:23.) The truth is, we can spend a lot of time feeding on God’s Word, but what we continually say is what we’ll ultimately believe.

When I was growing up, I had a friend who’d make up a whopper of a lie about some situation; then six months later, no one could convince him it hadn’t happened that way. He actually believed it.

If that can be done with a lie, it can be done with God’s Word. When someone starts saying, “By Jesus’ stripes I was healed,” it can sound hollow. It’s easy to think, I know the Bible says by His stripes I was healed, but I feel sick from head to toe. But as we keep saying it, soon we’ll believe it no matter what we feel like.

Feed on God’s Word and continually speak it. Once you believe in your heart what God says, you’ll declare it with faith-filled words. Then get ready—your answer is coming.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe God’s truth, I declare God’s truth, and I receive God’s truth.

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c
tober
1

Faith for Salvation—Faith for Healing But the

righteousness which

a

is of faith speaketh

This passage of Scripture tells you not only how on this wise…

to be saved, but also how to be healed.

Notice what Paul says in verse 6: “But the right-But what saith it?

eousness which is of faith speaketh….” Faith The word is nigh

always speaks. What you say is your faith thee, even in thy

speaking. I don’t mean just what you say once, mouth, and in thy

but what you say over a period of time.

heart: that is, the

Then in verse 8, Paul asks, “But what saith it?”

word of faith, which

What does the righteousness which is of faith we preach; that if

say? “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, thou shalt confess

and in thy heart.” Faith has to be in two places: with thy mouth the

in your heart and in your mouth.

Lord Jesus, and

Verse 9 goes on to say, “That if thou shalt shalt believe in thine

confess with thy mouth….” You may say, “I don’t heart that God hath

believe in Bible confessions.” If you don’t, you raised him from

have to throw out the whole book of Romans.

the dead, thou

You may argue, “But that verse is talking about shalt be saved.

salvation.” Yes, I know, but the same faith that —Romans 10:6-9

got you saved will get you healed. You just have to take your faith and point it in a different direction. Remember, Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23.)

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word in my heart and in my mouth says Jesus is my healer. I speak healing to my body, and according to my faith, it will be done unto me.

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c
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2

Release Your Faith With Your Words

a

For with the

heart man

The apostle Paul is saying with the heart you believeth unto

believe unto the reality of God’s Word. In other words, when you get a revelation of God’s Word righteousness;

in your heart, it becomes more real or alive to and with the

you.

mouth

Then Paul is also saying with the mouth confes-confession is sion is made unto the manifestation, or experi-made unto ence, of God’s Word.

salvation.

In other words, when you believe the Word, it becomes real; when you say it, it manifests. If —Romans 10:10

you say it without believing it, it isn’t real to you. If you believe it without saying it, it isn’t manifested for you. But when you believe and say the Word, it will produce for you.

We like it when God’s Word becomes real in our spirits. But there’s something about having it actually manifest in our lives that makes it more enjoyable yet. When we’re actually walking in good health, it feels good to “feel good”.

To experience the manifestation of God’s promises, you must continually speak God’s Word about your situation. That’s how faith is released. You can have a heart full of faith, but it won’t do you any good until you release it.

I t ’s like having a bank account full of money. That money will sit in the vault and do no good unless it’s spent. In the same way, you spend or release faith by the words you speak. That’s how to put your faith to work.

C o n fe s s i o n

As I feed on God’s Word, my heart grows full of faith. Now I release my faith and say, God’s power is healing me from head to toe.

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c
tober
3

Have the God-Kind of Faith

Through faith we

understand that

a

In Mark 11:22, Jesus said, “Have faith in God,”

the worlds were

or “Have the God-kind of faith.” What is the framed by the

God-kind of faith? Hebrews 11:3 gives us a clue; word of God, so

it says God spoke the universe into existence by that things which

faith.

are seen were not

Did you notice when God decided to create the worlds, He didn’t say, “Hmmm, I’ve never tried made of things

speaking worlds into existence before. I sure which do appear.

hope it works!” No, God knew He could do it.

—Hebrews 11:3

Isaiah 40:12 says God measured out the heavens in the span of His hand and measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. God thoroughly believed He could create the universe, and He knew exactly what it would look like when He was through.

In fact, God could’ve stepped out on the first day and said, “Universe, be!”

and everything would’ve spun into existence. I believe one reason God created a day at a time is to show us how the God-kind of faith works.

So God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Gen. 1:3.) But since God already believed He could speak the worlds into existence, how come the whole universe didn’t appear right then? The point is, even God didn’t get what He believed; He got what He said. Nothing more, nothing less. God believed He could create the entire universe, but only what He actually said came into manifestation at that point.

Faith works the same for us. You might believe a lot of things, but you’ll receive what you believe and say.

C o n fe s s i o n

From a believing heart I release my faith, saying healing and wholeness are mine.

282

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c
tober
4

Call That Which Is Not as

Though It Were

a

…even God, who

quickeneth the

We are to call those things which be not as dead, and calleth

though they were. As someone once said, “We those things which

don’t want to get that mixed up. God didn’t say be not as though

to call those things which are as though they they were.

were not.”

—Romans 4:17

In other words, God didn’t say to deny the symptoms, the circumstances, or the problems. We ’ re not supposed to say, “No, I don’t have any pain. No, there are n ’t symptoms in my body. No, my leg is not broken. No, my nose isn’t running.”

No! We are to call those things that be not as though they were. That means a person in faith should say, “Well, I don’t feel healed. But thank God, the Bible says I am, so I believe I’m healed. I don’t feel strong; but the Bible says I am, so I believe I’m strong.”

You should talk about healing as though it already existed in your body.

You should say, “It doesn’t matter what my body feels like, by Jesus’

stripes I was healed. (Isa. 53.) Jesus took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses and pains. (Matt. 8:17.) God sent His Word and healed me.

(Ps. 107:20.) It doesn’t matter what the problem is, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Isa. 54:17.) Since God is for me, no one can stand against me. (Rom. 8:31.) And I believe I receive my healing by faith now in Jesus’ name.”

C o n fe s s i o n

I don’t deny symptoms or circumstances; I just call forth God’s promises to be manifested in my life. I call my mind strong and at peace. And I call my body healthy and whole.

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tober
5

Call Forth Your Miracle by Faith

…I have made thee a

father of many

a

nations, before him

Our faith has to speak if we’re going to see whom he believed,

results. God calls those things which be not as though they were. Abraham called those things even God, who

which were not as though they were. Certainly, quickeneth the dead,

if our heavenly Father and the father of our and calleth those

faith operated in that kind of faith, we ought to things which be not

do the same.

as though they were.

“Call those things….” To call, you have to say —Romans 4:17

something. In other words, you’ll have to speak out loud.

Which of God’s blessings is not in your life? Is healing not in your life?

Then call it as though it were: “Everywhere I go, healing and health overtake me causing my body to be strong, healthy, and whole!”

Is that scriptural? Well, I like what Joel said: “Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10). He didn’t say, “Let the weak say I’m weak and unworthy.” No, the weak are supposed to say they’re strong. So calling those things that be not as though they were is very scriptural.

And the weak aren’t supposed to wait until they feel strong. If they did that, they’d never feel it. No, let the weak say, “I’m strong” while they still feel weak.

Why? Because with your mouth, confession is made unto the manifestation of God’s Word in your life. (Rom. 10:10.) So continually call your body healed as though it already were. And soon you’ll experience the manifestation of your miracle.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus took my sin and sickness and gave me His righteousness and health. So, I call my body healed and strong.

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6

Making a Statement of Fact

a

Paul, a servant of

God, and an

Someone may say, “If I say I believe I’m healed apostle of Jesus

when I still feel sick, that’s a lie.”

Christ, according

No, it isn’t. Number one, it’s calling those things to the faith of

which be not as though they were. (Rom. 4:17.) If that’s lying, then God lies all the time; and He God’s elect, and

can’t lie.

the acknowledging

Number two, it’s a statement of fact. If I say, “I of the truth which

believe I’m healed,” all I’m doing is telling you is after godliness;

what I believe. However, if I say, “I don’t have in hope of eternal

any symptoms in my body” when I do have life, which God,

symptoms, that’s a lie. Or if I say, “I have five that cannot lie,

$100 bills in my pocket” when I don’t, that’s a promised before

lie. But if I say, “I believe I’m healed by the the world began.

stripes on Jesus’ back,” I’m making a statement of truth because I believe it.

—Titus 1:1,2

You can believe anything you want to believe. If you choose to believe what God’s Word says instead of what symptoms tell you, is that a lie? No, that’s truth.

Jesus said, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul says, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). And Hebrews 6:18 states it’s impossible for God to lie. So when you believe what God says, you come in line with the highest form of truth in the universe—the Word of God, exalted even above His name. (Ps. 138:2.) C o n fe s s i o n

I believe God’s healing power is working in my body now, driving out every symptom and making my body completely whole.

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7

Hook Up With What God Says

Let the words of

my mouth, and

a

When I first learned you can have what you say, the meditation

I shut up for about three weeks. I thought, If I of my heart, be

get what I’ve been saying, I’m in trouble! For acceptable in thy

instance, when I was in high school I was a sight, O Lord, my

good driver. But, like everyone else in my strength, and

family, I drove too fast. I remember laughingly my redeemer.

saying, “Boy, the way I drive, I’ll never live to be thirty years old.”

—Psalm 19:14

I thought it was funny back then. But when I found out what the Bible said, I adjusted that in a hurry. I said, “The way I drive, I’ll live to be 125.” (Of course, I had to change a few driving habits too!)

We need to listen to ourselves. So often we speak negative phrases over and over without thinking. If we thought about it, we’d realize, dear Lord, that’s not what I want in my life.

If we keep speaking the same negative things over and over, eventually we’ll believe what we’re saying—then we’ll have it. For example, I’ve heard people say, “I’m afraid I’ll have an accident.” Then when they do, they ask, “Why did God do this to me?”

God didn’t have a thing to do with it. Those people stepped into a spiritual law that works either positively or negatively: They believed it, they said it, and they received it.

L e t ’s use this spiritual law to our advantage and hook up with what God says.

C o n fe s s i o n

I listen to my words. When I discover I’m contrary to God’s Wo rd, I change it. I speak divine health into my body. In Jesus’ name, I’m whole.

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8

Speak the Word From Your Heart

a

When she had

heard of Jesus,

How did this woman with the issue of blood get came in the

faith? “When she had heard of Jesus….” Faith comes by hearing. But did you notice how she press behind,

started releasing her faith? “For she said....”

and touched his

The Amplified Bible says, “For she kept saying, If garment. For she

I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to said, If I may

health.” She kept saying those words that touch but his

released her faith.

clothes, I shall

Someone may ask, “How long do you speak the be whole.

Word over a situation?”

Speak it until the answer manifests.

—Mark 5:27,28

But don’t rely on simple confession alone to do the job. Feed on God’s Word at the same time. Take time to read and study the Word. Meditate on it; speak it to yourself.

Matthew 9:20-22 provides another account of the same healing. Verse 21

says, “For she said within herself....” I like to say it this way: “For she said from within herself....”

Many people just mimic the way others speak the Word; they do it out of their heads instead of their hearts. They grab some Scripture and start saying it without even concentrating on it. These people need to keep on speaking God’s Word until it registers in their heart and they believe it.

So plant the Word down in your heart until its truth is alive and real to you. Then you can release faith-filled words that produce results.

C o n fe s s i o n

I abide in Jesus, and His words abide in me. I make my request according to God’s Word, and He answers me. I believe and speak now that Jesus took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses. I am healed.

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9

The Simplicity of Faith

For the Word that

God speaks is

a

God operates in faith by believing and saying, alive and full of

and God gets exactly what He says. Everything power [making it

God does, He does by speaking.

active, operative,

Did you ever notice that everything God does in energizing, and

the world today, He does by His Word on the effective]; it is

lips of believers? That’s how God carries out His plan on this earth.

sharper than any

How did you get saved? By believing in your two-edged sword.

h e a rt and saying with your mouth. Then how —Hebrews

a re you going to get healed? By believing in your

4:12 AMP

h e a rt and saying with your mouth. How are you going to get your needs met? By believing in your heart and saying with your mouth. How does faith work? By believing in the heart and saying with the mouth.

Thank God, He made it easy for us. Faith is so simple. Faith is just taking God at His Word.

So feed on God’s Word until you get it on the inside. Read it, study it, mutter it, meditate on it, and think about it until it is lodged deep down in your spirit. Then declare God’s promises with your mouth and watch God bring them to pass.

James 2:20 says faith without actions is dead. So act on your faith: Open your mouth and boldly declare, “Thank God, by Jesus’ stripes I am healed!” It’s that simple!

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe with my heart and say with my mouth that God’s Word is true in my life. His Word says I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus. The power in that Word is working in me now, healing, strengthening, and restoring me to health.

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1 0

Slay Your Giant of Sickness by Faith

a

Who is this

uncircumcised

Believing and saying is a spiritual law, just as Philistine, that

gravity is a natural law. You can find the law of he should defy

faith all through the Bible.

the armies of the

Remember David and Goliath? David was a shepherd boy working out in the fields with a living God?

sling and a handful of stones. But in 1 Samuel —1 Samuel

17, he fought against Goliath, a giant and a

17:26

warrior from his youth. Notice what David said: “I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts.

This day He’s going to deliver you into my hands!” (vv. 45,46.) That might seem pretty cocky for a little guy, but David wasn’t cocky or arrogant. He just knew he had a covenant with God.

David spoke out of confidence in his God, asking, “Who does this ugly Philistine think he is, defying the armies of the living God?”

Notice what David’s motives were. He didn’t challenge Goliath for his own glory. He didn’t say, “I’m going to make myself famous over this.” He just didn’t like people defying the armies of the living God. He was proclaiming, “We have a covenant—why don’t we walk in it?”

So David boldly told Goliath, “I’m going to take your head off your shoul-ders today!” Goliath may have laughed, but he didn’t laugh long. David sank one of those stones in his forehead; then cut off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword.

What did David get? Exactly what he believed and said. A spiritual law of faith was in operation.

C o n fe s s i o n

Sickness and pain are my Goliath. I face the giant, saying Jesus bore my sicknesses and carried my pains. By His stripes I’m healed.

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1 1

What Do Your Words Carry?

The words of a

wise man’s mouth

a

Words are powerful “carriers”; they carry faith are gracious; but

or unbelief. And whatever we fill our words the lips of a fool

with will directly affect our lives.

will swallow up

Sit down sometime and take a look at your life.

himself.

I’m sure you’ll find things you like. But if you look —Ecclesiastes

h a rd enough, you’ll probably find some aspects you don’t like. Then ask yourself, “What have I

10:12

been saying about those parts I don’t like?”

If you don’t like where you are in life, change your words. Quit saying what you’re saying. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue….”

For instance, have you ever said, “I never get anything from God. I tried that faith stuff, but it didn’t work for me”? If so, switch over to speaking words of faith: “I’ve been feeding on God’s Word for years, and my faith grows exceedingly. God’s Word is seed planted in my heart, and it’s working mightily in me.”

You see, we’re a direct result of what we’ve believed and said about ourselves in the past. So to make sure our future is better than our past or present, we need to renew our minds and straighten out our thinking.

Once you get your thinking lined up with God’s Word, it’s amazing how easily your believing will line up right behind it. After your believing is straightened out, your mouth will straighten out.

Then you’re ready for your faith-filled words to carry you straight into a future of health and abundance.

C o n fe s s i o n

My words are carriers of faith. They create the blessings I live in.

I walk in health and abundance all the days of my life.

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1 2

The Problem Is With Your Mouth

a

Hear; for I will

speak of

Many years ago I attended a campmeeting excellent things;

when the minister in charge asked me to preach. New to the ministry I prayed, “Dear and the opening

Lord, what am I going to do now?”

of my lips shall

Back then, I taught from sermons I’d written be right things.

out word for word. So I got out my notes and For my mouth

found a sermon I was comfortable with.

shall speak

I sat reviewing my notes before the service, and truth….

all of a sudden, I heard on the inside: Your problem is not with your faith, and it’s not with —Proverbs 8:6,7

God; it’s with your mouth. I knew it was for someone other than me.

When I got up to teach I looked at my notes and went blank. “All right, Lord, You win,” I said. “I’ll just start off with what You said.” So I repeated what the Lord had spoken to me before the service.

To this day I don’t know what else I preached, but after the service a lady came up to me who’d driven a long way. She could only stay for one service but told me, “I’m in a life-and-death situation. I’ve battled this physical condition for quite awhile and tried to figure out why I haven’t been healed.

“First I thought maybe there was some reason God wasn’t healing me.

Then I thought, No, the problem is I don’t have any faith. But now I know the answer. The problem is with my mouth. Well, I’m changing what I’m saying. And you just watch—now I’ll live and not die!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I line up my words with God’s words.

God satisfies me with a long and healthy life.

291

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1 3

Understanding Biblical Confessions

In those days came

John the Baptist,

a

People have gone to extremes with the subject preaching in the

of Bible confession. Many misunderstand this wilderness of

subject because so much tradition and religious Judaea, and

doctrine have been taught. But we shouldn’t saying, Repent ye:

throw out the whole principle because of a few extremes. We just have to go back to the Word for the kingdom of

and find the truth.

heaven is at hand.

You can find four basic types of confession in Then went out to

the Bible. Usually when the word confession is him Jerusalem,

mentioned, people automatically think of confessing sin. This is the first type of confession, and all Judea, and

and it’s discussed in Matthew 3:1-6.

all the region

This passage addresses John’s baptism—the round about

baptism of repentance and the confession of Jordan, and were

sins. However, we need to understand this was baptized of him in

before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Under the old covenant, people couldn’t Jordan, confessing

be born again because Jesus hadn’t been to the their sins.

Cross yet. So to be in right relationship with —Matthew

God, they had to confess their sins.

This type of confession is biblical under the old

3:1,2,5,6

covenant. However, confessing each and every sin to get in right relationship with God—or to be born again—doesn’t apply to us today because we’ve changed covenants. Hebrews 8:6 explains that today we live under a new and better covenant established on better promises.

C o n fe s s i o n

I confess Jesus is my Lord and Savior and my healer. He redeemed me from sin and sickness so I could have life and health.

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Confessing Jesus as Lord

a

If thou shalt

confess with thy

This Scripture shows us the second type of mouth the Lord

Bible confession. Paul talks about confessing with our mouths, so he’s talking about a verbal, Jesus, and shalt

audible confession. What do we confess? We believe in thine

confess Jesus as Lord and Savior in a confes-heart that God sion or prayer of salvation.

hath raised him

Just after I got saved, I went with a college from the dead,

group to share Jesus with people on Daytona Beach. I used to tell people, “If you’ll confess thou shalt be

your sins, God will save you.” But technically, saved. For with

that’s not true. The new birth does not come as the heart man

a result of confessing all your sins. You couldn’t believeth unto

remember them all anyway.

righteousness; and

Paul did not say, “If you will confess with your with the mouth

mouth every mistake you ever made….” No, he said, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that confession is made

Jesus is Lord….”

unto salvation.

You see, the Bible says, “Go ye into all the —Romans 10:9,10

world, and preach the gospel to every creature”

(Mark 16:15). Is the Gospel bad news? No, it’s good news! Too often we’ve given people bad news: “You old rotten sinner, if you don’t get saved, you’re going straight to hell.” But here’s the Good News: God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…” (2 Cor. 5:19). Your sins have been paid for!

So, the confession of salvation is not a negative confession—it’s a positive confession of Jesus as Lord.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus, I believe in my heart God raised You from the dead, and I confess You as my Savior and Healer.

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1 5

Confession and Cleansing for the Believer If we confess our

sins, he is faithful

a

This Scripture reveals the third type of Bible and just to forgive

confession—the believer’s confession of sin. We us our sins, and to

know that John is talking to the Church because cleanse us from all

he began by saying, “My little children.”

unrighteousness.

When we’re born again, God looks at us My little children,

through the blood of Jesus as though we never these things write I

sinned. Old things are passed away; all things unto you, that ye

have become new. (2 Cor. 5:17.)

sin not. And if any

But what happens if we make a mistake after man sin, we have

we’re born again? God tells us not to sin, but He’s made provision in case we do. He knows an advocate with

as long as we’re on this earth, we’ll have diffi-the Father, Jesus culty. The devil pushes us toward sin on one Christ the

side, and our flesh drags us toward sin on the righteous.

other side.

—1 John 1:9; 2:1

If we sin, we go right straight to our Advocate, a legal representative, in heaven who goes to the Father on our behalf. How do we make use of that Advocate? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we do our part, God does His.

So this third type of confession is how the Church stays in fellowship with the Father.

C o n fe s s i o n

I seek to please God, but when I miss it, I simply ask God to forgive me and He does.

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1 6

Hold Fast to Your Confession of Faith a

Let us hold fast

the profession of

The fourth type of confession is the confession our faith

of faith, or the confession of what we believe.

This is an important type of Bible confession without

that many in the body of Christ have missed.

wavering; (for

Let’s examine the phrase, “hold fast the profes-he is faithful sion of our faith.” In the King James Version, the that promised).

word profession is used. But the same Greek —Hebrews 10:23

word homologeo is translated as “confession”

elsewhere in the New Testament and means “to speak the same thing as; to agree with.”1 So the writer of Hebrews is actually saying, “Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

God is faithful and will keep His promises, but He also requires something of us. God is faithful to perform His Word— if we believe and act on it. We have a part to play. If we want His faithfulness to operate in our lives, we must hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering.

What does confession of faith mean? Faith is what you believe or put your trust in. For instance, you put your trust in the Word that says by Jesus’

stripes you were healed. Then even if your body feels and looks sick, you’ll hold fast to the unchangeable truth of God’s Word. You’ll hold fast to what you believe, and you won’t waver or doubt.

Line up your mouth with what you believe, and say, “Thank God, I believe I’m healed!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I hold fast to my confession that Jesus took my sicknesses and bore my pains no matter what I feel or see.

295

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1 7

Unwavering Faith

Let us hold fast the

profession of our

a

What does Paul mean when he tells us not to faith without

waver? Let’s look at another Scripture that wavering; (for he

addresses this issue. James talks about not is faithful that

wavering as well:

promised).

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, —Hebrews 10:23

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:5-7

James was talking about asking for wisdom, but he also gave us a Bible truth that applies to every area of our lives. He said, “Ask, and it shall be given— but…. ” Then he gave a condition to the promise. We have to “ask in faith, nothing wavering. ”

How do people waver? Most wavering comes in what you say. Nothing wavering means you’re not wavering in what you believe or in what you say.

You get to that place of unwavering faith by getting your heart full of the Word. You see, you talk about what is closest to your heart. So when your heart is full of the Word, you can’t talk about anything else. Every time you open your mouth, God’s Word comes out. That’s how you hold fast to your confession of what God says.

C o n fe s s i o n

God sent His Word to heal me, so I won’t waver by speaking doubt and unbelief. Symptoms don’t move me because I believe in my heart that I’ve already received my healing.

296

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1 8

Seek Healing, Not Sympathy

a

Let us hold fast

the profession of

Notice that this verse talks about holding fast to our faith

your profession of faith. Think about that. If you have to hold fast to something, it usually means without

it’s trying to get away from you. You’ll find in wavering; (for

life that it will take some work at times to hold he is faithful

fast to the confession of your faith.

that promised).

Folks will say to you, “You look terrible. How do —Hebrews 10:23

you feel? I know what you believe, but how do you feel?” It’s so tempting to switch over into the natural realm and just spew it all out, telling people how bad you really feel, how bad it looks, and how bad the doctor’s report says it’s going to get. Flesh just likes to get down and wallow in that mire of doubt and self-pity, looking for sympathy.

But I’d rather have healing than sympathy. Sympathy feels good for a few seconds, but healing feels good for a long time. I can hold fast to my symptoms and get sympathy. But I’d rather hold fast to my confession of faith and get results.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus was faithful to heal those who came to Him in faith, and He’s still the same today. I hold fast to my confession that I am healed because God is faithful to keep His promises.

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1 9

Return God’s Word Unto Him

For my thoughts are

not your thoughts,

a

neither are your

God’s ways and thoughts are so much higher ways my ways, saith

than ours. But, thank God, He had His ways and thoughts written down in sixty-six books called the Lord. For as the

the Bible and handed them to us so we can walk heavens are higher

in victory.

than the earth, so

But some folks say, “I tried the Word, and it are my ways higher

didn’t work for me.” The truth is, the Word than your ways, and

always works if you work it. So if the Word my thoughts than

d o e s n ’t seem to be working in your life, your thoughts.

perhaps you aren’t returning it to Him. God said For as the rain

said “[My Word] shall not return unto me void,”

cometh down, and

(v. 11).

the snow from

How do you return God’s Word to Him? With heaven, and

your mouth. You say, “Father, thank You no returneth not thither,

weapon formed against me shall pro s p e r.

but watereth the

Thank You by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed. Thank You I walk in abundant life.”

earth, and maketh it

bring forth and bud,

Fill your heart with God’s promises pert a i n i n g to your need, then re t u rn the Wo rd to Him by that it may give seed

holding fast your confession of faith. As you to the sower, and

do, God will make sure His Wo rd re t u rns with bread to the eater:

the answer!

So shall my word be

that goeth forth out

C o n fe s s i o n

of my mouth: it

Father, I return Your Word to You. I say, shall not return

by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed. Jesus took unto me void….

my infirmities and bare my sicknesses.

—Isaiah 55:8-11

And You satisfy me with long life.

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2 0

Go Forth With Joy

a

So shall my word

be that goeth forth

God’s talking here about an abundant, blessed out of my mouth:

life. God plans for His people to “go out with joy, it shall not return

and be led forth with peace.” This is a provision under the old covenant, and today we live unto me void, but

under a new and even better covenant estab-it shall accomplish lished on better promises.

that which I

Folks say, “Well, that’s just a blessing for the please, and it shall

Jews.” But the Bible says we are grafted in prosper in the

through the blood of Jesus.

…they which are of faith, the same are the thing whereto I

children of Abraham.

sent it. For ye

Galatians 3:7

shall go out with

If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, joy, and be led

and heirs according to the promise.

forth with

Galatians 3:29

peace….

Some folks say, “Well, we’re redeemed from the Old Testament.” No, we’re just redeemed from —Isaiah 55:11,12

the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13.) We still have a right to all the old covenant blessings. And on top of that, we have the new birth, the infilling of the Holy Ghost, and the life, nature, and ability of God living on the inside of us.

How do these blessings operate in our lives? They operate as you believe and speak God’s Word, which cannot return to Him void. Think about that. When you speak God’s Word, it must come to pass and accomplish what it’s sent to do because God’s words wouldn’t dare return to Him empty and void!.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word doesn’t return to Him void so I speak joy, peace, health, blessings, and abundance in my life, knowing God’s Word will accomplish it.

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2 1

God’s Insurance Policy

He that dwelleth in

the secret place of

a

the most High shall

I thank God for insurance policies protecting abide under the

houses and cars and so on, but I thank God even more for the divine insurance policy He shadow of the

gave us in Psalm 91. I have more confidence in Almighty. I will say

that policy than in any earthly one.

of the Lord, He is my

Janet and I have seen the 91st Psalm work refuge and my

many times in our lives. For instance, we fre-fortress: my God; in quently travel overseas, and all you have to do him will I trust.

is ride in traffic to witness firsthand how angels There shall no evil

protect you. In some countries, whichever car befall thee, neither

bumper sticks out the farthest is the car with shall any plague

the right of way. I love it, but Janet closes her come nigh thy

eyes and prays while I drive.

dwelling.

N o w, verse 1 of our divine policy says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High —Psalm 91:1,2,10

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ”

If we want to stay within the boundaries of God’s p rotection, we must walk closely with Him.

How do we appropriate our Psalm 91 insurance policy? Verse 2 tells us: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

As you speak God’s promises of protection and deliverance, His Word will not return unto Him void. No evil will befall you, and no plague shall come near you.

C o n fe s s i o n

Psalm 91 works for me. My God is my refuge and my fortress. No plague comes near my dwelling place because I put my trust in Him.

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22

Walk in Agreement With God

a

Can two walk

together, except

Adam walked and talked with God in the cool of they be agreed?

the day. That’s the fellowship the first Adam had with God, but he lost it through the Fall.

—Amos 3:3

The Bible calls Jesus the last Adam, the One who came to restore to us what the first Adam lost. So under the new covenant, we have the ability to walk and talk with God again. In fact, He said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Cor. 6:16).

But when we’re in disagreement with someone, it’s hard to walk with that person in comfortable fellowship. It’s the same way in our relationship with God.

Sometimes we unconsciously disagree with God and then wonder why He won’t help us. We ask, “Why isn’t God helping me? Why isn’t He working for me? He knows how bad things are!”

Yes, God knows the situation. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He doesn’t look down in surprise and say, “Wow! When did that happen?”

It isn’t that God refuses to help us if we disagree with Him. There’s just very little He can do. That’s why Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

One particular meaning of the word c o n f e s s is “to agree with.”1 In order to hold fast to the confession of your faith, you have to agree with God. The best way to develop agreement is to get in His Wo rd. Then make a choice to agree with it, believing in your heart and saying with your mouth.

C o n fe s s i o n

God says I’m healed. God says I’m more than a conqueror.

God says He satisfies me with long life. And I agree.

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2 3

Guard Your Words

But the angel said

unto him, Fear not,

a

Zacharias: for thy

Zacharias, a priest under the old covenant, was prayer is heard; and

in the temple fullfilling his duties when the angel Gabriel appeared. The angel told thy wife Elisabeth

Zacharias that he and his wife would bear a shall bear thee a

child named John. This was big news because son, and thou shalt

they were old and had no children.

call his name John.

“How can this be? We ’ re too old,” Zacharias And Zacharias said

said. In other words, he doubted the word of unto the angel,

the Lord.

Whereby shall I

A person who doubts at some point will speak know this? for I am

doubt. So Gabriel said, “And, behold, thou shalt an old man, and

be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day my wife well

that these things shall be performed, because stricken in years.

thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” (v. 20).

—Luke 1:13,18

The son born to Zacharias would become John the Baptist, who was a crucial part of God’s plan; he came to pre p a re the way for the first coming of Jesus. If Zacharias had spoken doubt against that divine plan, he could’ve messed up the whole thing. So Zacharias was made dumb until the plan was fulfilled. God wasn’t punishing Zacharias; He was protecting His divine plan.

God may not strike you dumb, but He does tell you to guard your mouth.

Your words can put you on a path to victory or defeat. Protect God’s plan for your life by guarding your words.

C o n fe s s i o n

My words keep me in the midst of God’s plan for my life.

I will finish my course with joy and live a long and healthy life.

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2 4

“Be It Unto Me According to Thy Word”

a

And the angel

came in unto her,

When the angel appeared to Mary and told her and said, Hail,

she, a virgin, would have a son, she didn’t say, thou that art

“I don’t believe this.” She didn’t say, “Give me a highly favoured,

sign that this is really true.” She simply ques-the Lord is with tioned how it could happen, saying, “How shall thee: blessed art

this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34).

thou among

She was saying, “I don’t know how it’s going to women.

happen; but you said it so I believe it.” Verse 38

says, “And Mary said…be it unto me according And, behold, thou

to thy word.”

shalt conceive in

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and thy womb, and

Mary, bringing the promise of a child to both.

bring forth a son,

To Zacharias it was difficult to believe because and shalt call his

he and his wife were old. To Mary it was impos-name Jesus.

sible to believe because she was a virgin.

—Luke 1:28,31

Zacharias doubted and said, “I don’t know whether I can believe that.” He had to have his mouth closed for months so he wouldn’t disagree with God’s plan.

But Mary simply said, “I believe it!” Verse 45 tells us the result of Mary’s faith: “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Words make a difference! So, pick yours carefully so there will also be a performance of those things which have been told you from the Lord.

C o n fe s s i o n

My words cause me to walk in God’s plan of abundance and health.

Be it unto me according to Your Word, Lord.

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2 5

Tell Yourself How You Are

…Whosoever shall

say unto this

a

mountain, Be thou

In this passage, Jesus gives us the most com-removed, and be plete, condensed instruction of faith found in the Bible. In verse 23, He gives the two basic thou cast into the

principles of faith—believing in the heart and sea; and shall not

saying with the mouth. Then in verse 24, He doubt in his heart,

shows us how to apply our faith in prayer.

but shall believe

N o w, I remember hearing that Smith that those things

Wigglesworth once said, “I never get up in the which he saith

morning and ask Smith how he is. I get up in shall come to pass;

the morning and tell him how he is.”

he shall have

You can do the same. Take yourself to God’s whatsoever he saith.

Word every morning and say, “This is how you Therefore I say unto

are. You’re more than a conqueror. This is the you, What things

victory that overcomes the world—even your soever ye desire,

faith. (1 John 5:4.) By Jesus’ stripes you were when ye pray,

healed. (1 Peter 2:24.) You’ve been delivered.

believe that ye

(Col. 1:13.)”

receive them, and ye

We have to feed on the Word until we not only shall have them.

know what God says, but we also believe it in —Mark 11:23, 24

our hearts. Then when a situation arises, we can just lean back, look the problem square in the face and say, “I don’t care what you look like, seem like, sound like, or feel like. I believe God!”

C o n fe s s i o n

Every day I tell myself how I am according to God’s Word. I’m healed.

I’m blessed. And I believe it shall be even as He told me in His Word.

304

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2 6

Taking Our Promised Land

a

Now all these

things happened

The things that happened to Israel happened as examples for us. Many are types and shadows, unto them for

or pictures, we can learn from because they ensamples: and

point to our new covenant in Christ.

they are written

God delivered Israel from the bondage of for our

Egypt. He supernaturally parted the Red Sea admonition,

and then closed up the Red Sea on the Egyptian army. God “brought them forth also with silver upon whom the

and gold: and there was not one feeble person ends of the

among their tribes” (Ps. 105:37).

world are come.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt and walked across that Red Sea, they were free, —1 Corinthians

happy, healthy, prosperous, and delivered from

10:11

their enemies.

T h a t ’s what the new birth looks like. And the minute we’re born again, that’s the way God sees us. If we trust Him, we can walk in that kind of life. Challenges will come along, but the Bible says, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

God led the Israelities into the Promised Land, which isn’t a type of heaven; it’s a type of our abundant Christian life on earth.

God told them, “Giants live there, but don’t be concerned about them. I’ll drive them out. You just go possess what I’ve given you!”

We’re in a similar position. Victory already belongs to us. The devil has already been defeated. Sickness and disease have already been conquered. Now we just have to exercise our rights and privileges to take what already belongs to us.

C o n fe s s i o n

God wants me free, healthy, and delivered from my enemies.

That’s my promised land! I take health that is mine in Jesus’ name.

305

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c
tober
2 7

Enter Your Promised Land Through Faith And Moses sent

them to spy out the

a

God told the Israelites about a land flowing land of Canaan,

with milk and honey, so the twelve spies went and said unto them,

in to check it out. When they returned, they Get you up this way

brought back a cluster of grapes so large it took southward, and

two men to carry it.

go up into the

That looked mighty good to these children of mountain: and

Israel who’d been living in the desert getting see the land, what

water from a rock and living on manna from heaven. They were ready to move in and it is….

possess this Promised Land. However, Israel —Numbers 13:17,18

didn’t go in; they stayed back in the desert.

You’ll find that in the church world today. Some folks are satisfied to stay out in the “desert,” getting a little water out of a rock and a bit of manna from heaven each morning. They could move over into the promised land and enjoy an abundance of blessings, but they’re satisfied where they are. “Don’t push healing on me,” they say.

“I’m not interested. I’m happy as I am.”

You see, the choice is ours. God doesn’t force anything on anyone. I don’t know about you, but I have a burning desire to move over into my promised land—the best God has for me.

The Bible says the Israelites “could not enter in because of unbelief”

(Heb. 3:19). What will you do? Whether you move into abundance or just barely get along is the extent to which you believe God. No wonder God says, “Without faith, you can’t please Me.”

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing is part of the abundant life Jesus provided for me.

I’m strong, healed, and able to possess my inheritance.

306

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28

Nevertheless—Believe God

a

…We came unto

the land whither

Faith is a law that operates by believing and thou sentest us,

saying. Just like the natural law of gravity, this and surely it

spiritual law works for everyone. If we jump off floweth with milk

a platform, the law of gravity says we will hit the floor. And according to the law of faith, and honey; and

what we believe and say is what we will get.

this is the fruit of

The ten spies returned to report that the land it. Nevertheless the

overflowed with milk and honey, and offered people be strong

huge clusters of grapes.

that dwell in the

If the spies had stopped there, they would’ve land, and the

been

in

good

shape.

But

they

said,

cities are walled,

“Nevertheless….” Then verse 32 says, “They and very great:

brought up an evil report of the land….”

and moreover we

That word n e v e rt h e l e s s gets a lot of people in saw the children

t rouble because it’s a sign of their unbelief. “Lord , we know what Your Wo rd says; n e v e rt h e l e s s . . . . ”

of Anak there.

But I like the way Peter used the word. One —Numbers

morning after a bad night of fishing, Jesus told

13:27,28

him, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4).

Peter replied, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: n e v e rt h e l e s s at thy word I will let down the net” (v. 5). As Peter obeyed Jesus, he and the other fishermen caught so many fish their boats almost sank.

Let’s use the word nevertheless the way Peter did—to believe God.

C o n fe s s i o n

Symptoms and circumstances may try to come against me; yet nevertheless, I overcome through the power in God’s Word and Jesus’ name.

307

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2 9

The Spirit of Faith

Surely they shall not

see the land which I

a

sware unto their

When the twelve spies went to check out the fathers, neither shall

Promised Land, they discovered it was flowing with milk and honey, exactly as God had said.

any of them that

provoked me see it:

But when the spies came back out, three million but my servant

and ten of the people said, “We can’t possess that Caleb, because he

land.” Only Joshua and Caleb stood up and said, “ Yes, we can. If God said it, we can do it!”

had another spirit

with him, and hath

The other unbelieving children of Israel wan-followed me fully, dered in the wilderness for forty years and him will I bring into

eventually died there. Forty years later, Joshua and Caleb led the next generation of Israelites the land whereinto

into the Promised Land.

he went; and his

seed shall possess it.

But notice, they all got what they believed and said. And if that spiritual law worked under the —Numbers 14:23,24

old covenant, it works under the new.

God said, “But my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully….” What did God mean by “another spirit”?

Caleb had the same spirit of faith Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 4:13: “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.”

We’re a direct result of what we’ve believed and said up to this point in time. So, don’t believe evil reports. Hook up with God, agree with His Word, and walk in His blessings.

C o n fe s s i o n

I believe, and therefore, I say that You sent Your Word and healed me. You’ve delivered me from destruction.

308

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tober
30

What Kind of Witness Will You Be?

a

In the mouth of

two or three

There are two different witnesses talking to us witnesses shall

in every situation.

every word be

On one side, there’s the witness of the problem.

established.

Problems speak loud and clear, whether it’s pain, symptoms, bad reports, depression, or —2 Corinthians

fear. It says, “Man, you’re sick! You won’t make

13:1

it. You’re defeated.”

On the other side is the witness of God’s Wo rd. It says, “By Jesus’ stripes, you were healed. (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24.) Thanks be unto God who always gives you the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 2:14.) This is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith. (1 John 5:4.)”

But notice, it takes two witnesses for any of those words to stand. The word e s t a b l i s h means “to cause to stand.”1 So God said, “In the mouth of two or t h ree witnesses, let every word be established, or be made to stand.”

The devil is on one side. God is on the other. And you’re in the middle.

The side you line up with becomes the side with the majority vote. If you line up with the problem, it’s established in your life, and there’s little God can do about it. However, if you choose to line up with God’s Word, you’re on your way to victory.

How do you line up? The witness you believe and verbally agree with is the one that becomes established in your life.

C o n fe s s i o n

With my mouth, I establish the Word in my life. God sent His Word and healed me. I believe I’m healed according to His Word.

309

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c
tober
3 1

Choose To Receive by the Hand of Faith I call heaven and

earth to record this

a

day against you,

Some folks agree with every problem that comes along: “Oh, I’m sick. I’m broke. I’m that I have set before

defeated. I’m discouraged. I’m depre s s e d .

you life and death,

Nothing ever goes right for me.” Some people blessing and

constantly talk the blues, believe the blues, and cursing: therefore

get the blues. Then they wonder why God choose life, that both

doesn’t—and cannot—help them.

thou and thy seed

The truth is, if it were up to God we’d never have may live.

a problem. The Bible says He has already given —Deuteronomy

us all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2

30:19

Peter 1:3.) He has already re d e e m e d us fro m sickness, disease, povert y, lack, failure, and fear.

Yet, God left the matter of whether or not we walk in these redemptive blessings in our hands.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, He said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” It’s our choice. God doesn’t force anything on us. God already provided His best for us when He purchased everything we’d ever need that pertains to life and godliness. He made it available and then said, “If you want it, you can have it—just come and take it by faith.”

Faith is the hand that receives from God. When we choose to reach out and take hold of God’s blessings by faith, we become overcomers in this world, walking in the fullness of His blessings.

C o n fe s s i o n

I choose to take hold of God’s blessings by faith. I’m not moved by what I see or feel. I’m only moved by what I believe. God says I am healed; therefore, I agree and say, “I am healed.”

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ovember
1

Boldly Proclaim God’s Truth

a

…For he [God]

hath said, I will

Notice those two phrases “he hath said” and never leave thee,

“that we may boldly say.” As Christians, we ought to boldly say whatever God says about us.

nor forsake thee.

If He said, “By Jesus’ stripes, you were healed,”

So that we may

then we ought to boldly say the same. If He said, boldly say, The

“I’ve delivered you from your fears,” then we Lord is my

ought to boldly say the same.

helper, and I will

We need to search the Scriptures to find out what not fear what

God has said about us and our situation, then man shall do

boldly proclaim that truth. Not timidly— b o l d l y !

unto me.

Now, we don’t have to speak out in front of everyone; some won’t believe or understand.

—Hebrews

But we can get before God and boldly agree

13:5,6

with His Word.

So when the devil tries to remind you of mistakes you’ve made, you can boldly say, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he’s a new creature. Glory to God, I’m a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away. All things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17.) Or when the devil says, “You’re just an old, unworthy thing, a miserable creature,” you can say, “He who knew no sin was made to be sin for me so I could be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21.) I’ve been given the free gift of righteousness. I reign as a king in life. Glory to God!” “God hath said,” so that you may boldly say the truth, then watch the enemy flee.

C o n fe s s i o n

I boldly say the Lord is my strength and helper. No plague comes near my dwelling. No weapon formed against me prospers.

311

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ovember
2

Jesus, Our Advocate

Wherefore, holy

brethren,

a

The Greek word for profession is also translated partakers of the

confession, meaning Jesus is the apostle and heavenly calling,

High Priest of our confession. First John 2:1

consider the

tells us even more about Jesus’ role and says, Apostle and High

“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Priest of our

Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” In other profession,

words, Jesus is our Mediator—our attorney.

Christ Jesus.

Consider a big court case where God is the judge.

In the far corner is the prosecutor—or the devil —Hebrews 3:1

and accuser of the bre t h ren. (Rev. 12:10.) Thank God, our attorney—Jesus—is in our corn e r.

Now, think about this scenario. The devil whispers to your mind, I’m going to make you sick. Then your attorney Jesus leans toward you saying, ”All right, give Me something to work with.”

But you agree with your accuser: “Oh, I’m so sick and getting sicker.

Everything goes wrong for me. I hurt from head to toe.”

Jesus looks at the Father and says, “I haven’t got a thing to work with here.”

N o w, consider this instead. When the devil whispers in your mind, I ’ m going to make you sick, suppose your attorney Jesus finds you boldly saying: “Thank God, by Jesus’ stripes I was healed. (Isa. 53.5; 1 Peter 2:24.) This is the victory that overcomes the world, even my faith. (1 John 5:4.)”

That’s the kind of confession Jesus has been waiting to hear. He turns to the Judge and says, “Father, be it unto Your child according to his faith!”

C o n fe s s i o n

God is the strength of my life. He heals me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

312

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ovember
3

Redeemed From Every Curse of Sickness a

Christ hath

redeemed us

Sometimes people get sick and think, There from the curse of

must be some deep, dark, hidden sin in my life I don’t even know about that’s caused this curse to the law, being

come on me. Yet, some problems in our lives are made a curse for

without cause; they’re simply attacks from the us: for it is

enemy. So if you don’t know about a hidden sin written, Cursed

in your life, it’s probably not there.

is every one that

Even if you have sinned—repent, receive for-hangeth on giveness, and walk in the provision of healing a tree.

Jesus purchased for you.

I talked to a fellow in Europe who was upset —Galatians 3:13

because a physical ailment had come on his relative. He told me, “We’ve gone all through her childhood to see if she had any bitterness in her past that caused this condition. We found out she got angry at her mother one time when she was a little girl.”

This man was trying to view his re l a t i v e ’s sickness from a psychological perspective. Now, sometimes bitterness can cause illnesses. But we need to be careful about getting into the realm of psychology. Although psychology can sometimes help locate problems, it can seldom free us from them.

We don’t need to go digging past the time we were born again. At that moment, we became new creatures, and our old man died. Any problems we had before that are gone.

Thank God, we’ve been redeemed from every curse of the enemy.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a new creature in Christ Jesus. My past was wiped away.

Therefore, I come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

313

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ovember
4

“God’s Word Works for Me!”

The secret things

belong unto the

a

Sometimes God won’t tell us why a particular Lord our God:

individual didn’t get his or her healing.

but those things

For instance, one time Janet and I were asked which are revealed

to pray for a very ill man in the hospital. When belong unto us

we visited, he was lying in bed saying every-and to our thing right: “By Jesus’ stripes I’m healed. (Isa.

children for

53:5; 1 Peter 2:24.) Himself took my infirmities ever….

and bore my sicknesses. (Matt. 8:17.)”

—Deuteronomy

But as we left, we knew in our spirits he would go home to be with the Lord. We sensed he was

29:29

talking right because he didn’t want his family angry at him for wanting to go to heaven. He’d seen a glimpse of it and was tired of fighting.

In just a short time, the man did go home to be with the Lord.

Some said of his death, “I guess this faith stuff doesn’t work. He was believing God and died.” Yes, but he was believing God to go home.

You can’t let someone else’s experience affect you because you never know what’s in that person’s heart. Don’t look at another person’s situation and say, “Well, if it didn’t work for him, it will never work for me.”

Get your eyes back on God’s Word that assures us it’s God’s will to heal every person every time of every disease. Then say, “Well, I don’t know why it didn’t work for that person, but it will always work for me!”

C o n fe s s i o n

By Jesus’ stripes I’m healed, and I’m never letting go of that.

My faith isn’t based on people’s experience, but on the solid foundation of God’s Word.

314

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ovember
5

You Can Finish Your Course

a

It is appointed

unto men once

Some people think there’s an appointed time to to die, but after

die, and when that time comes the person dies.

But that’s wrong thinking, and it leaves the door this the

open to the devil.

judgment.

This verse doesn’t say there’s an appointed time —Hebrews 9:27

to die. It says it is appointed unto man to die once. I heard someone say, “It’s appointed unto man once to die, but we don’t have to let the devil set the appointment.”

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:23-24, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” In other words, Paul was saying, “I haven’t decided yet whether to go or stay.” He was writing from prison, and they were ready to take his head off. Yet Paul was saying he hadn’t decided whether to go or stay—as though he had a choice.

Paul did have a choice. Later in his writings, he said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2

Tim. 4:6,7). He left when he was good and ready—and that was when he’d finished his course.

You should desire to do the same. Dare to believe God for a long, satisfy-ing life. Determine in your heart you won’t leave this earth until you can say with confidence, “I’ve finished my course!”

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ll live out my full time on this earth. I’ll fight the good fight of faith; I’ll finish my course with joy.

315

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ovember
6

Faith in God’s Word Prolongs Life

My son, forget not

my law; but let

a

Someone might say, “What is our full length of thine heart keep my

time on this earth?” Perhaps it’s one age for one commandments:

person and another age for another person. If for length of days,

God were making the appointment, we’d know and long life, and

that from the Bible.

But look at what Ephesians 6:1-3 says:

peace, shall they

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this add to thee.

is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which —Proverbs 3:1,2

is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

In other words, the Bible tells children, “There’s something you can do that will cause you to have a long life.”

The book of Proverbs also talks about increasing the length of our lives: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Proverbs 9:10,11

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 10:27

There are many other Scriptures that say, “If you do this, you’ll live long on the earth,” or “If you do that, you’ll cut your life short on this earth.”

But the Bible doesn’t say, “There’s an appointed time, and when your time comes, you’re going.” No, God tells us how to prolong our lives.

C o n fe s s i o n

The life I find in God’s Word drives disease far from me.

My days are multiplied, and the years of my life are increased as I fear and reverence Him.

316

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ovember
7

Believe God for Length of Days

a

And if thou wilt

walk in my

I knew a man who was only thirty-nine years old ways, to keep my

when he went home to be with Jesus. He’d been sick for a while and never received healing.

statutes and my

commandments,

Later, this man’s brother told someone, “You know, it’s the strangest thing. When my brother as thy father

and I were younger, we spent a lot of time David did walk,

together. Every now and then, he’d get really then I will

serious and say, ‘I’ll never live to be forty.’”

lengthen

The man didn’t have any particular reason for thy days.

believing that, but he kept thinking and plan-

—1 Kings 3:14

ning for an early death. Just a matter of weeks before he turned forty, he went home to be with the Lord. He could’ve had thirty, forty, or fifty more years on this earth and fulfilled God’s will for his life.

Now, I don’t mean to criticize people who go home early, but we need to keep our thinking right. The Bible says believers can enjoy abundant blessings in this life. We don’t have to die sick.

The good news is whether a Christian gets healed or goes home to be with the Lord, he can’t be defeated. If he gets healed, he’s going to go tell everyone about it. If he dies and goes to heaven, he’ll be with Jesus.

We have an eternity to spend in heaven, so let’s get the job done here first, and then go home to be with the Lord.

C o n fe s s i o n

I obey God’s commandments with my whole heart.

Therefore, long life and peace are added unto me.

I’ll live on earth until I’m satisfied.

317

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ovember
8

Live Out Your Full Life on Earth

With long life will

I satisfy him, and

a

God wants you to live out your full life on the shew him my

earth. Yet if you don’t, He won’t be mad at you.

salvation.

We should never criticize anyone for going —Psalm 91:16

home to heaven early. For instance, Janet and I had a friend who was extremely ill and couldn ’t seem to get his healing. He was too young to die, but he saw a glimpse of the other side and told his family, “I’m not staying. I just can’t stay anymore.”

Sometimes people get a glimpse of heaven, and you can’t hold them back. When we say it’s not the will of God for people to go home early, we’re not being critical of those who have. We’re just saying to those who are still here, “Let’s press on and stay as long as we can!”

Don’t ever feel sorry for someone who has gone to heaven. Don’t try to figure out why he didn’t get his healing. Faith is a matter of the heart, and the only One who can look into the heart is God.

Someone may say, “Well, I knew so-and-so. He was believing God, and it didn’t work.”

No, that isn’t right. It may have looked as if that person was believing God, but God doesn’t—and cannot—fail.

Don’t try to figure it all out. Rejoice with those who have made it to the other side, and keep the Word working for yourself in this life.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God shows me His salvation. He preserves my life.

He heals my body. God’s Word works mightily in me.

And I’ll be satisfied with a long, fruitful life for His glory.

318

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ovember
9

Believe the Word, Not the Symptoms

a

For we walk

by faith, not

I heard about a lady who attended a particular by sight.

church and had a big, visible cancerous growth on her face. She’d prayed and believed she —2 Corinthians

received her healing, but there was no change

5:7

in her appearance.

Later at a testimony service, this woman stood and said, “I want to thank God for healing me.” She sat down, and people started looking at her funny. The next Sunday, she stood and said, “I want to thank God for healing me.” This went on for several weeks.

Some people got upset, and one person said to her, “Everyone can see you’re not healed. You’re causing confusion. You can’t keep standing up telling people you’re healed.”

The woman went home and stood in front of her mirror praying, “Now, Father, in Jesus’ name, I know I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus. I know what the Bible says, and I know I believe it. I’d sure appreciate it, though, if You’d get rid of these ugly symptoms.”

All of a sudden, while the woman still stood at the mirror, that big cancer just fell off and hit the floor! She looked in the mirror and saw that the area where the growth had been a moment before was covered in fresh baby skin!

You see, even though we reach out by faith and believe we receive our answer, we may not look different immediately. But we don’t have to look different—we just have to believe what the Bible says and say what we believe. Then we have what we say!

C o n fe s s i o n

Thank God, I’m healed. No matter how I feel or what I see or what comes at me, I believe I have the victory.

319

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ovember
1 0

Switch Over to the Realm of Faith

We having the

same spirit of

a

Perhaps you need a miracle and have been faith, according as

waiting for God to manifest Himself through it is written, I

the gifts of the Spirit. But no gift has come.

believed, and

What should you do now?

therefore have I

Do what the Bible says you’re supposed to do.

Switch over to the realm of faith. Believe God, spoken; we also

and draw power out of Him.

believe, and

You see, Jesus ministered to people in two dif-therefore speak.

ferent ways when He walked on this earth. At —2 Corinthians

times Jesus sovereignly performed miracles that re q u i red no faith from the individual.

4:13

Other times people crawled up behind Jesus in a crowd and pulled power out of Him when He didn’t even know they were there. (Matt. 14:36.) Their faith released the power of God.

Jesus still ministers both ways. Sometimes He sovereignly works mirac l e s — at His will. But our faith in His Wo rd will work every time at our will.

So don’t wait for a miracle to happen—make one happen with your faith in God’s Word!

Someone once said to me, “Oh, you make God sound like a heavenly butler.” No, I don’t make God sound like anything. I just tell you what He’s already said in His Word.

Beside that, there’s a big difference between a heavenly butler and a heavenly Father. You tell a butler what to do. But with your heavenly Father, you find out what He’s already said and done for you, then take hold of it by faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God always makes His healing power available to me. I draw on that healing power by faith and appropriate what I need from Him.

320

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ovember
1 1

“Ask, and It Shall Be Done Unto You”

a

If ye abide in

me, and my

Jesus was telling His disciples, “If you abide in words abide in

Me, and My words abide in you, My words abiding in you will produce faith. Then you’ll you, ye shall ask

ask whatever you will, and it will be done unto what ye will,

you.” I didn’t say that—Jesus did!

and it shall be

Now, Jesus did put limits on that promise. He done unto you.

did not give us carte blanche. In other words, —John 15:7

He didn’t say, “Ask for anything—period.” No, Jesus said, “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you….”

You see, if His Word is abiding in you and you’re walking with Him, you won’t be able to ask in faith for anything that’s unscriptural; you’ll only ask for things that line up with the Word. That’s God’s checks-and-balances system.

Actually, in this verse Jesus is saying that you can have a miracle at your own discretion. You don’t have to sit back and wait to see whether it’s God’s own good time to perform a sovereign miracle. God said, “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you!” You have Jesus’ word on it—you can initiate a miracle any time you want.

C o n fe s s i o n

I abide in Jesus, and His Word abides in me. Therefore, I ask whatever I will, and it’s done unto me. I ask for healing, and it’s done unto me. God’s is released and working in me even now.

321

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ovember
1 2

The Power in Prayer

Is any sick among

you? let him call for

a

the elders of the

Who is the “ye” in the phrase “that ye may be church; and let them

healed”? “Ye” is the body of Christ. Each of us in the body of Christ is to pray for one another so pray over him,

those in the Church may be healed.

anointing him with

We Christians will be healthier when we start oil in the name of

praying for one another. We need to understand the Lord: and the

that we have great power in prayer. James 5:16

prayer of faith shall

A M P puts it this way: “The earnest (heartfelt, con-save the sick, and tinued) prayer of a righteous man makes tre m e n-the Lord shall raise dous power available [dynamic in its working].”

him up; and if he

Praying for each other can make the difference.

have committed sins,

You see, there are people in the Church and in they shall be

the world who need your help to understand forgiven him.

and take hold of their healing. Why? Some Confess your faults

people have never even heard about divine one to another,

healing. Isaiah 5:13 says, “Therefore my people and pray one for

are gone into captivity, because they have no another, that ye

knowledge….” Others have never been taught may be healed….

how to receive from God. These people need someone to go to the throne of God in prayer —James 5:14-16

for them, praying that the eyes of their understanding are enlightened. (Eph.1:16.) You can be that someone! Your earnest, heartfelt, and continued prayers for another can make tremendous power available.

C o n fe s s i o n

As I pray, tremendous power is made available to effect a healing and a cure in others and in me.

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ovember
13

Coming to Jesus for Others

a

When the even

was come, they

You’ll find cases again and again in the Bible brought unto

where people were healed because someone went to Jesus on another’s behalf.

him many that

For instance, did you ever notice in Matthew 8

were possessed

that the centurion’s servant who needed with devils: and

healing stayed home? This servant had palsy, he cast out the

but he was healed because someone went to spirits with his

Jesus on his behalf. (vv. 5-13.)

word, and

In Matthew 15, the woman from Canaan came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter, who was griev-healed all that ously vexed with a devil. This girl was healed were sick.

because of her mother’s faith. (vv. 22-28.) —Matthew 8:16

In John 4, the nobleman traveled appro x imately twenty-five miles to reach Jesus. The nobleman said, “My son is at home at the point of death. Come and heal him.” Jesus said, “Go your way; your son is all right.” The man went his way believing the word Jesus had spoken. And because he had gone to Jesus on his son’s behalf, his boy was healed. (vv. 47-53.) Years ago, when someone in a c h u rch was sick, it was a common occurrence for the church to rally around and pray twenty-four hours a day until that person was healed. It wasn’t something they organized; it was Holy Ghost inspired. We need to continue that practice today because “the e a rnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tre m e ndous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 A M P) .

C o n fe s s i o n

It’s God’s will that all be healed. Today I can bring people before God’s throne in prayer so Jesus can work His healing power in them.

Healing belongs to them and to me because we serve a good God.

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ovember
1 4

Persistence in Prayer

One of [Jesus’]

disciples said unto

a

him, Lord, teach us

The disciples were impressed by Jesus’ prayer life, and no wonder, for He got results. So they to pray, as John also

asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus taught his disciples.

first taught the Lord’s Prayer. Then He shared —Luke 11:1

another key to prayer:

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

Luke 11:5,6

What is bread? Well, when the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15 asked for healing for her daughter, Jesus called healing the children’s bread.

(v. 26.) So in this parable, when the man asked for three loaves of bread, he could’ve been asking for healing for his friend.

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Luke 11:7,8

Jesus said the man finally gave the bread to the petitioner because of his import u n i t y. One meaning of that word i m p o rt u n i t y is “persistence.” The Amplified Bible says, “because of his shameless persistence and insistence….”

Do you know someone in need who can’t seem to make contact with God for himself? Go to God on his behalf. He will hear your persistent prayers and s e rve your friend exactly what he needs—the childre n ’s bread of healing.

C o n fe s s i o n

I boldly go to my Father in behalf of others. I persistently ask and faithfully believe God will serve them the children’s bread of healing.

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ovember
15

Helping Others Make Contact With God

a

Confess your

faults one to

Have you been in a situation where you knew another, and

what the Word said, you knew how to believe God, your words lined up with the Bible—but pray one for

still, you got nowhere fast?

another, that ye

Those are the times you need to go before the may be healed.

Father and say, “God, You never miss it because The effectual

You can’t change. So, tell me where I’m missing it, and I’ll make the adjustment.”

fervent prayer of

Sometimes people get in situations where, for a righteous man

one reason or another, they just can’t seem to availeth much.

make contact with their answer. In many of those cases, other believers can go before God’s —James 5:16

throne and help them.

For example, years ago the daughter of a friend of ours became very ill and continually grew worse.

Another friend of ours told his wife one day that he sensed a strong urg e to pray for this sick young lady. The couple prayed about five hours before the unction to pray lifted off them. They knew they had the answer.

Later, the couple found out that the very evening they prayed for the young woman, she suddenly started getting better, until soon she was perfectly normal.

We may never know why the young woman had trouble connecting with her answer. But God supernaturally moved on another believer to pray and “make tremendous power available” for her.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m faithful to pray fervently for others, and God’s power is made available for their healing. When I don’t know how to pray as I should, the Holy Spirit helps me pray, making intercession with groanings that cannot be uttered. (Rom. 8:26.) 325

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ovember
1 6

Do the Works of Jesus

Believest thou not

that I am in the

a

Jesus said, “I’m not healing people. The Father Father, and the

inside Me is the One doing the works. He’s Father in me? the

healing them through Me.” He also said, “The words that I speak

Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth unto you I speak

the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, not of myself: but

these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19).

the Father that

Any time a Christian gives God the opportunity, dwelleth in me, he

God will start doing the same works He did doeth the works.

through Jesus. That’s why in John 14:12, Jesus said, “…He that believeth on me, the works that —John 14:10

I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

God’s plan is to dwell inside of us: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of the living God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor.

3:16). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that’s why the believer’s ministry is so powerful.

If you’re a believer, God already lives inside you. Now it’s up to you to release His power through faith. As you do, He will start doing the same works through you that He did through Jesus.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m the temple of the living God; the Spirit of God dwells in me.

Jesus said that as I believe on Him, I’m able to do the works He did— and even greater works because my Father does the work through me.

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ovember
17

The Holy Spirit—God’s Powerhouse

a

But if the Spirit

of him that

I’ve heard people say, “Miracles don’t happen raised up Jesus

anymore. God doesn’t heal today.” But people sure don’t get that idea from the Bible. There’s from the dead

no Scripture that will back up that statement.

dwell in you, he

Of course, Jesus is our healer. He purchased that raised up

and provided healing for us on the Cross. Yet Christ from the

the Holy Spirit is the powerhouse who mani-dead shall also fests that healing in our physical bodies. The quicken your

Scripture above says the Spirit who raised Jesus mortal bodies by

from the dead is the same Spirit who quickens his Spirit that

our mortal bodies or makes them alive.

dwelleth in you.

Still today, the Holy Ghost is the One doing the mighty works of God through those who yield —Romans 8:11

to Him. But the Holy Ghost didn’t even come into the fullness of His ministry until the Day of Pentecost, when He was poured out on all flesh.

So I ask this question: How can some say healings and miracles have stopped at the very time the Holy Spirit who manifests them came into the fullness of His ministry? The truth is, healings and miracles have not stopped. The Holy Spirit is still moving like a mighty wind over all the earth.

C o n fe s s i o n

When Jesus ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit dwells in me and manifests the healing power that Jesus purchased for me. That healing power is working in me right now.

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ovember
1 8

Was It Profitable That Jesus Went Away?

Nevertheless I tell

you the truth; It is

a

Jesus is the healer, but the Holy Ghost is the expedient for you

means by which Jesus manifests healing to us.

that I go away: for

Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was expedient, or if I go not away,

profitable, for us that He should go away. Yet the Comforter will

how could it be profitable if it would mean we’d not come unto you;

have to live below what Jesus provided for us?

but if I depart, I

It couldn’t. That’s why Jesus said, “I will pray will send him

the Father, and he shall give you another unto you.

Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever”

(John 14:16).

—John 16:7

Jesus was saying, in essence, “There’s only one of Me. But if I go, I’ll pour out the Holy Ghost.

He will come into anyone who accepts Me as Lord and Savior, and that same power will dwell in him.”

Jesus was also saying, “I’m not taking away healing when I go away.

When I send the Holy Ghost, My healing power in the earth will be multiplied many times over!”

Regardless of what some say, healing didn’t stop when Jesus ascended to heaven. It hasn’t dwindled down to nothing. On the contrary, it has been multiplied hundreds of thousands of times over. Just ask the countless people living on this earth today who have been healed by God’s power.

C o n fe s s i o n

The greater One dwells within me and infills me with His power.

Healing is mine because the Spirit who breathed life back into Jesus’ body also quickens life to my mortal body.

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ovember
19

The Holy Spirit, Our Teacher

a

But the

Comforter, which

Does God use sickness to teach us?

is the Holy Ghost,

This Scripture says the Comforter will teach us whom the Father

all things. How much is “all things”? All means all! Well, if the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, will send in my

how much does God reserve for us to learn name, he shall

through sickness and disease?

teach you all

Absolutely nothing! You’ll never find one place things, and bring

in the Bible where sickness is the teacher of the all things to your

Church. It’s always the Holy Ghost who guides remembrance,

and teaches.

whatsoever

“Well, yes,” someone might say, “but God sometimes teaches us through sickness too.” No, He I have said

doesn’t. How could He when He doesn’t have unto you.

any sickness to give?

—John 14:26

Second Timothy 3:16-17 shows us how the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to teach us: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Holy Ghost is our teacher, and God’s Wo rd is our perf e c t e r, corre c t e r, and instru c t o r. So draw on the ministry of the Wo rd and the teacher within.

D o n ’t look for lessons to be learned from sickness and pain. Let the Holy Spirit take you higher in God while you enjoy divine health.

C o n fe s s i o n

Sickness is not my teacher; it’s my enemy, and I rebuke it in Jesus’ name. The Holy Ghost and the Word teach me everything I need to know to walk victoriously in life.

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ovember
2 0

Tap Into God’s Higher Ways

…My thoughts are

not your thoughts,

a

If God’s point ended in verse 9, we might as neither are your

well throw in the towel because God’s ways and ways my ways,

thoughts are so far above ours. But don’t quit!

saith the Lord. For

Look at what God goes on to say: “…My as the heavens are

word…shall not return unto me void, but it higher than the

shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper…whereto I sent it” (v. 11).

earth, so are my

How can it prosper if we can’t reach the height ways higher than

of His thoughts and ways? Well, God says, your ways, and

“Moved on by the Holy Ghost, I had holy men of my thoughts than

old write down my ways and thoughts and give your thoughts.

them to you in sixty-six books called the Bible.

Now you have My old ways and thoughts as well —Isaiah 55:8,9

as My new ways and thoughts. The new ones a re even better than the old, so live by the new.”

You see, God is always the same, but He enacted two covenants. Don’t try to live under the old covenant He gave to people who were lost, or spiritually dead and separated from God. Their sinful, old nature was covered, not cleansed.

Today we are new creatures in Christ, living under a new covenant. We aren’t just forgiven; we’re made new. We’re alive, redeemed, liberated, and healed.

So let God’s Word renew your mind and bring life to your body. As you do, God promises His Word will help you walk in His higher ways of freedom, abundance, and health.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word heals my body and renews my mind so I can think His thoughts and follow His ways.

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ovember
2 1

Walk in God’s Ways

a

He made known

his ways unto

God’s acts are the miraculous deeds He per-Moses, his acts forms, and His ways are the road that takes you to the miraculous.

unto the children

of Israel.

Now, you see, everything God does on the earth, He does through the Holy Ghost. Think —Psalm 103:7

of it in terms of electricity. A power plant has plenty of electricity, but that power has to be moved from the power plant to electrical outlets so people can access it.

That takes a conductor.

Well, God has plenty of power, and He wants to manifest the benefits of salvation in our lives. I once heard salvation defined as the sum total of all the blessings bestowed on man by God in Christ, through the Holy Ghost. Jesus purchased our salvation and God sends forth the blessings, but the Holy Ghost is the conductor.

That’s why it’s important for us to know more about the Spirit of God. He delivers salvation to our spirits and healing to our bodies. He’s the One who transmits to us what the Father has.

Psalm 103:7 says that God made His ways known to Moses. As the leader of God’s holy nation, Moses in particular had to know God’s ways.

But Holy Ghost-filled believers must also know His ways. We’re not supposed to just sit back and watch God move. He wants us to know His ways so we can be right in the middle of what He’s doing on this earth.

C o n fe s s i o n

God is making His ways known to me. I walk in the ways of God, and the Holy Ghost delivers the healing Jesus purchased for me.

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ovember
2 2

The Two Flows of Anointing

How God anointed

Jesus of Nazareth

a

with the Holy Ghost

Two major flows of anointing operated in Jesus’

ministry, and these same flows are still on the and with power:

body of Christ today.

who went about

One flow is like lightning. It hits every now and doing good, and

then; we don’t know when, where, or how.

healing all that were

These “bolts of lightning” are manifestations or oppressed of the

gifts of the Spirit that operate as God wills.

devil; for God was

The other flow of anointing is like electricity, with him.

flowing freely when activated by faith.

—Acts 10:38

A man named Bullinger, who wrote most of the notes in the The Companion Bible, said, “There are fifty-two times in the New Testament where the term ‘Holy Ghost’

should literally be translated not ‘the Person of the Holy Ghost,’ but ‘the manifestations of the Holy Ghost.’”1

Acts 10:38 is one of those times. So it should say, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the manifestations of the Holy Ghost and with power.”

At times, Jesus operated in the manifestations of the Spirit, delivering a miracle with no faith on the recipient’s part. These were manifestations of God’s sovereign side, where His power flowed like lightning.

But a majority of the time, Jesus would teach and preach to develop faith in people. Then by faith, individuals would activate His power and release it to flow like electricity.

Jesus hasn’t changed. If the majority received by faith back then, that’s how the majority will receive today. Let the hand of faith release God’s power to flow in you.

C o n fe s s i o n

By faith I tap into God’s healing power and release it to flow in me. I say healing is mine, and I receive it now.

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ovember
2 3

The Spirit Without Measure

a

For he whom

God hath sent

We’ve been talking about learning the ways of speaketh the

God’s Spirit—how He works, how He moves. Of course, the best way to understand God’s ways words of God:

is to look at Jesus.

for God giveth

Jesus had been with the Father from the begin-not the Spirit by ning, but He set aside His glory and took on measure unto

flesh. He left the rightful dignity and privileges him. The Father

He had enjoyed with the Father and was born loveth the Son,

on this earth as a baby. Then at the age of thirty, and hath given

Jesus worked His first miracle after the Holy Ghost had come upon Him.

all things into

The Bible says, “God giveth not the Spirit by his hand.

m e a s u re unto him.” In plain English, that —John 3:34,35

means God gave Jesus the anointing without limitations. Jesus didn’t have one strong point, because He had all strong points. But when Jesus left this earth and went to the Father’s right hand, He distributed the anointing that was on His earthly body throughout His new body of believers.

Individually, no other person will ever walk in the anointing without measure. But the body of Christ as a whole has the anointing without measure. So whatever manifestations of God’s power we saw in Jesus’

ministry, we should see operating through the Church today as believers learn more about the ways of God.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a child of God, and I’m learning to follow the ways of my Father.

He wants me to be healthy and whole. Healing is mine. It’s bought and paid for by the blood of His Son, and I receive it by faith.

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ovember
2 4

Our Family Is Cheering Us On

…One of his

disciples said unto

a

Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to him, Lord, teach us

pray. One part of the prayer Jesus taught them to pray, as John

said, “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in also taught his

earth.” You see, God doesn’t have one will for disciples. And he

His children in heaven and one will for His chil-said unto them, dren down here on earth.

When ye pray, say,

Many of us have thought the early Church and Our Father which

latter Church are two separate churches. No, art in heaven,

there’s just the Church.

Hallowed be thy

Then we’ve thought there are two diff e rent families of God: the family already in heaven and the name. Thy

family still on the earth. No, it’s just o n e f a m i l y.

kingdom come. Thy

Paul wrote to the Ephesians and said, “For this will be done, as in

cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our heaven, so in earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in —Luke 11:1,2

heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14,15). Our family members in heaven are just as real as we are. They’re leaning over the balcony of heaven, cheering us on, saying, “Go for it! Get with it, folks!”

All those great faith men and women in Hebrews 11 are watching along with our loved ones who’ve gone on before us. They’re all cheering us on, encouraging us to overcome every obstacle in our spiritual race. That ought to get us excited!

C o n fe s s i o n

I want God’s will done on earth, as it is in heaven. There’s no sickness in heaven, so sickness must leave my body in Jesus’ name.

God’s healing power is working in me, making me whole.

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ovember
25

One Will on Heaven and on Earth

a

And he said

unto them, When

Is it ever God’s will for His children here on ye pray, say, Our

earth to be sick? Well, God doesn’t have one will for those in heaven and another will for His Father which art

family on earth. God’s will is the same for all in heaven,

His children. He’s no respecter of persons; He Hallowed be thy

doesn’t play favorites.

name. Thy

You don’t plan to be sick when you get to kingdom come.

heaven, do you? No! There ’s no sickness in Thy will be

heaven. Beside, sickness wouldn’t be able to done, as in

touch you even if it were there. It couldn’t attach heaven, so in

itself to you because you’ll have a changed, glorified body like Jesus had when He was raised earth.

f rom the dead and walked through walls. No, —Luke 11:2

you won’t be sick when you get up there .

Now, there is sickness here in this world, and it does attack. It even has the bold audacity to attack Christians. Can you imagine that? But, thank God, we don’t have to take it. We don’t have to put up with it. We can rise up in the name of Jesus, and our faith in God’s Word will run it off. Why?

Because healing belongs to us!

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s will for me is that I walk in perfect health.

So when sickness tries to attack me, I don’t wonder whether or not it’s from God. It isn’t! So, I don’t put up with it.

I command sickness to leave in Jesus’ name. God’s power is effecting a healing and a cure throughout my body.

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ovember
2 6

Take Care of the Temple

Wherefore take

unto you the whole

a

L e t ’s cover reasons we sometimes fail to re c e i v e armour of God,

healing. We may need to make some adjust-that ye may be ments so God is free to give us what we ask for.

able to withstand

On one whirlwind trip to Europe, Janet and I flew in the evil day,

all night, arrived the next morning, and then over and having done

the course of the next three days we traveled to t h ree countries and preached I don’t know how all, to stand.

many services in all. The anointing we operate —Ephesians 6:13

under in a service quickens our bodies and gives us an extra dose of strength. We can go on like that for weeks.

But during the trip symptoms came on my body that concerned me. I believed I received my healing. I rebuked the symptoms, but they didn’t leave. So I thought, I’ll do what Ephesians 6:13 says to do: “Having done all, to stand.”

But I had misinterpreted that verse. I was trying to stand without having done all to stand.

Janet and I had arranged a short time off and checked into a guest house.

Over the next thirty-six hours or so, I ended up sleeping more than 25

hours off and on. When I finally woke up, I told Janet, “I know what’s been wrong with me!”

I’d made the same mistake as Epaphroditus; he almost worked himself to death in the ministry, but God had mercy on him. (Phil. 2:25-30.) I learned to treat my body right so I can walk in divine health and finish my course.

C o n fe s s i o n

I take good care of my body and stand in faith on God’s promise of healing and health.

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ovember
27

Take Care of Your Temple

a

…that ye may

be able to

Sometimes the reason we’re experiencing diffi-withstand in the culty getting rid of sickness in our bodies is that we’ve left a door open someplace. Either we’re evil day, and

doing something wrong, or we’re not doing having done all,

something right. This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule to stand.

because the devil will still try to attack when —Ephesians 6:13

we’re doing everything right.

For instance, I was a youth minister in Colorado for about thirteen months. I lived in a couple’s home, and the wife was an amazing cook. I gained about twenty-five pounds.

But then life got very busy. I had an opportunity to minister in two different schools, and I was on a flat run all the time. For a couple of months, I ate a lot of very unhealthy junk food. All of a sudden, my stomach started giving me trouble.

N o w, I’m not a nervous, high-strung person. But when I tried to eat, I’d almost get sick to my stomach. My stomach just burned all the time. I had unknowingly opened the door for the devil to bring me stomach problems.

I prayed, “Lord, I’m sorry. My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and I’ve been misusing it. Lord, I repent.” Then I believed I received my healing and got healed instantly.

So don’t mistreat your body and leave a door open for the devil to bring in sickness and disease. Eat right and get adequate rest and exercise.

Never forget—you are the caretaker of your body.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m responsible for taking care of my body. So I purpose to take good care of it by eating right, and getting plenty of exercise and rest.

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ovember
2 8

Be a Person of Your Word

Wherein God,

willing more

a

abundantly to shew

Hebrews 6:18 says it’s impossible for God to lie.

unto the heirs of

He doesn’t have the capacity to be dishonest or to fail to keep His Word. God and His Word promise the

cannot be separated.

immutability of his

counsel, confirmed it

As God’s children, we should also be people of by an oath: That by

our word. Now, sometimes a situation arises that makes it impossible to keep our word, even two immutable

though our intentions are good. With the things, in which it

exception of these extreme cases, we need to was impossible for

be people of our word.

God to lie, we might

If we can’t believe in our own word, our faith have a strong

will never work because faith is believing what consolation, who

we say will come to pass. Our faith has nothing have fled for refuge

to stand on when our word is no good. We to lay hold upon the

never know what to believe.

hope set before us.

As humans, we often have to choose whether —Hebrews 6:17,18

we’re going to tell the truth or “fudge” just a little bit. The flesh wants to rise up and say whatever it takes to keep us out of trouble. But compromising the truth even in little ways will short-circuit our faith.

In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection….” Well, if the Paul had to keep his body under, we certainly do too. Your mouth is part of your body, so keep it under and keep your word .

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a person of my word, and I’m a person of God’s Word.

Truth lives and abides in me and produces health and wholeness.

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ovember
29

Live a Long, Healthy Life

a

But now hath he

obtained a more

Wrong thinking can open the door to the devil.

excellent

For instance, one time Janet and I were in another country talking to an older gentleman ministry, by how

who’d been on the mission field for many years.

much also he is

He’d built church after church, but his denom-the mediator of a ination had recently called him back home.

better covenant,

This older gentleman said to me, “Young man, which was

you believe God wants to heal people, don’t you?”

established upon

“Yes, sir, I do!” I replied.

better promises.

“But if God wants everyone healed, how in the —Hebrews 8:6

world is anyone ever supposed to die?” he asked. You see, someone had planted wrong thinking in his head.

That just hurt my heart. I thought, Here’s a man who has given his life to serve God on the mission field. Now that he’s come back home, he’s waiting to get sick so he can go home to be with the Lord!

So I told the man, “Sir, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I believe we ought to have it at least as good under the new covenant as God’s people did under the old covenant. Back then, men of faith who served God lived long, healthy lives. They’d come to the end of their lives, lay hands on their families to bless them, drew up their feet in the bed, said good-bye, and took off for heaven. (Gen. 49:33.) We need the same revelation if we want a long, satisfied life: We don’t have to be sick to die. We can go to our heavenly home in perfect health.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ll live a healthy and useful life for God and go home when I’m satisfied.

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ovember
3 0

How Does God Perfect the Saints?

And he gave some,

apostles; and some,

a

Some people say, “I believe God wants to use prophets; and some,

sickness to perfect us.” Well, if that’s been God’s evangelists; and

method of perfecting the Church, He’s failed some, pastors and

miserably. If sickness were supposed to be the teachers; for the

perfecter and the teacher of the Church, then perfecting of the

every Christian ought to be thoroughly fur-saints, for the work nished unto all good works. If that were God’s of the ministry, for

plan, then He missed it big time.

the edifying of the

Some might say, “Yeah, but sickness ought to body of Christ.

make you more pious.” No, sickness doesn’t bring out piety in people; it brings out their worst.

—Ephesians 4:11,12

If you’ve ever been sick, you know that. Sickness makes you mean, orn e ry, and cantankerous.

The idea of God’s using sickness for our benefit is simply wrong thinking. God doesn’t want us sick. It’s not part of His plan for us. He never planned for sickness to perfect us, correct us, or make us more pious.

God gave us the Word of God to correct and instruct us. He sent the Spirit of God to live inside us to teach, lead, and guide us. And if we go a step further, Ephesians 4:11 says God gave ministry gifts to perfect the saints.

So the maturing of the saints doesn’t come through sickness. God designed it to come through the Word, the Holy Ghost, and the ministry gifts.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God wants me well! He sent the Holy Ghost, the Word, and the ministry gifts to instruct me in His ways. I receive those gifts and become a mature saint, walking in God’s best.

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December
1

Sickness Is Not Your Teacher

a

Take my yoke

upon you, and

How do we learn about the things of God? By learn of me; for I

spending time in prayer and fellowship with the Holy Ghost and in study of God’s Word.

am meek and

lowly in heart:

I hear people say all the time, “I learned so much from being sick.” I admit people have and ye shall

learned things while they were sick, but they find rest unto

d i d n ’t learn b e c a u s e they were sick. They your souls.

learned because they fed on the Word of God —Matthew 11:29

and prayed. It may have been the first time they took time to do that in a long time. That’s why a lot of folks mistakenly relate sickness to learning—they never took the time to study and pray until they got sick.

We’d be a lot better off if we learned to feed on the Word and pray when we’re well. We’d learn just as much, and it would be a lot less painful.

Someone once said to me, “Yeah, but God made me sick and wanted me in the hospital because I witnessed to someone while I was there.”

But God is intelligent, and so are we. I believe as we wait before God in prayer, He can drop in our hearts to witness to someone in the hospital while we’re well. Too often we rationalize everything, trying to figure it out in our heads. Let’s just stick with the truth found in the Bible and accept God’s promise of health and healing every day.

C o n fe s s i o n

The Holy Spirit, my teacher, shows me in the Word that Jesus took my sins and my sicknesses. I’m so glad for His help and to walk in the blessing of health.

341

December
2

Be Willing To Change

For I am the Lord,

I change not.

a

Lillian B. Yeomans was a medical doctor who —Malachi 3:6

lived many years ago. She was raised from her deathbed by the power of God and turned in her medical license and started practicing medicine with the Gre a t Physician. She had amazing results.

D r. Yeomans made a statement that stood out to me: If you’re praying or believing God for something that belongs to you in the Wo rd, and you don’t see something start to change in three days, then you start changing.

If something belongs to us, God’s already paid for it. He’s redeemed us, delivered us, and healed us. So when we see the answer to our need in the Scriptures, we latch on to God’s promise with the hand of faith and say, “Father, You said it, I believe it, and I receive it!”

But if time passes and our answer hasn’t manifested, something may have to change. Perhaps sin or disobedience is keeping us from receiving from God.

Some people say, “I’ll keep standing. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing until God changes.” Then they sit and do nothing, waiting for God to change.

That won’t work. You have to accept that God can’t change, Jesus can’t change, the Holy Ghost can’t change, and the Word can’t change. So if something has to change—that something has to be you.

Ask the Lord if you need to change in some area. That will put you in motion. And as the Lord reveals the changes you need to make and you make them, you’ll receive the results you desire.

C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus bought and paid for my healing with His own precious blood.

I’ll change when I need to, and I’ll receive the results I desire.

342

December
3

Jesus Was Bruised for Us

a

Yet it pleased

the Lord to

How could it please the Father to bruise Jesus?

bruise him; he

I’ll tell you how. It pleased the Father for Jesus to be bruised because it provided healing and hath put him to

health for all His people. Jesus would die, grief: when thou

descend into hell, and be resurrected in three shalt make his

days with a new, glorified body, free of all sick-soul an offering ness and pain. From that day forward, God’s for sin, he shall

people wouldn’t have to suffer sickness, pain, see his seed, he

or disease.

shall prolong his

Jesus was made sick so we might be made well.

days, and the

He went down to hell so you and I could live pleasure of the

eternally with Him. He left heaven so you and I could be welcome there. He left the throne Lord shall

room of God so we could go there in His name prosper in

any time we wanted.

his hand.

And I tell you what, Jesus is alive and well and —Isaiah 53:10

doing fine today! He’s not hurting anymore. He took all the benefits of redemption, wrapped them up, put a bow and ribbon on the package, wrote our names on it, and said, “Here—pick these up any time you need them.”

Jesus was bruised so you and I wouldn’t have to be. The price has been paid. Healing and health belong to us!

C o n fe s s i o n

Healing belongs to me! Jesus’ body was broken so I could walk in divine health. God was pleased to accomplish His redemption plan, and He’s pleased when I walk in that plan by faith.

343

December
4

Jesus Paid the Price

Yet it pleased the

Lord to bruise

a

Several years ago, I heard that one of my rela-him; he hath put tives was very sick. Her husband said the him to grief: when

doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

thou shalt make

She’d been in for surgery two or three times, his soul an

and there was nothing more they could do.

offering for sin….

Sickness had spread throughout her entire body, but they didn’t know exactly what it was —Isaiah 53:10

and couldn’t get rid of it. Doctors weren’t even sure she would live.

After prayer, she went in for surgery one more time. But when they opened her up, they couldn’t find a trace of any sickness except in her appendix, which they removed. She’s been healthy ever since.

As I pondered her situation, I thought, T h a t ’s a good picture of what God did for us! Just as it pleased God to get that diseased appendix out of my re l-a t i v e ’s body, it pleased Him to send Jesus to pay the price for our sicknesses.

You see, sickness was destined to destroy the entire body of Christ. But God took all sickness and condensed it into Jesus’ body.

That’s why it pleased God to bruise Jesus. Thank God for His love. In a moment of time, all the disease of mankind was centered in one Man.

Jesus willingly paid the price for our sins and sicknesses. He paid the price for you and me to walk in health today.

C o n fe s s i o n

God so loved the world that He gave Jesus. Jesus so loved me that He willingly paid the price to set me free from sickness and disease. Praise God, I am free.

344

December
5

Be Careful How You Hear

a

And it came to

pass on a certain

God’s power was present, but none of the day, as he was

Pharisees and doctors of the law were healed.

teaching, that

They weren’t there to receive; they were just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus.

there were

But what about the woman with the issue of Pharisees and

blood? She heard of Jesus, pressed through a doctors of the law

crowd, touched His garment, and was healed.

sitting by, which

“Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that were come out of

virtue had gone out of him…” (Mark 5:30). Yet every town of

that same virtue, or power, was available to Galilee, and

everyone in the multitude, but only this woman was healed.

Judaea, and

Now look at Luke 6:17-19. A great multitude Jerusalem: and the

“came to hear him, and to be healed of all their power of the Lord

diseases…. And the whole multitude sought to was present to

touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and heal them.

healed them all” (vv. 17,19). This time the entire multitude was healed.

—Luke 5:17

All three of these accounts talk about the power Jesus was anointed with, but these three stories each had a diff e re n t result. H e a r i n g was the diff e rence. In Luke 5, the religious leaders re f u s e d to hear, so no one was healed. In Mark 5, the woman heard, believed, and received. And the multitude in Luke 6 all “came to hear him, and to be healed,” and they were.

It’s a pattern in Jesus’ ministry: Those who heard and acted in faith always received.

C o n fe s s i o n

What I hear and how I act determine what I have in my life. My faith increases daily to receive all God says is mine—including healing.

345

December
6

When God’s Compassion Flows

As [Jesus] went out of

Jericho with his disciples

and a great number

a

Blind Bartimaeus wouldn’t stop; he just kept of people, blind

crying out: “Have mercy on me! Have compas-Bartimaeus, the son of sion on me!” And that divine compassion Timaeus, sat by the

started to flow.

highway side begging.

And when he heard that

Jesus turned and asked, “What do you want?”

it was Jesus of Nazareth,

Bartimaeus replied, “That I might receive my he began to cry out, and

sight.” And he did!

say, Jesus, thou son of

David, have mercy on

When God’s compassion flows, miracles happen.

me. And many charged

Jesus had compassion on the multitudes, and He him that he should hold

healed them all. (Matt. 14:14.)

his peace: but he cried

the more a great deal,

Sympathy feels sorry for people, but God’s com-Thou son of David, passion causes His love to flow to meet needs or have mercy on me.

produce miracles in people’s lives.

And Jesus answered and

We have that same divine love shed abroad in said unto him, What wilt

our hearts. It’s time we let that sweet love of thou that I should do

Jesus flow forth to a sick and dying world.

unto thee?

People are looking for love and compassion.

The blind man said unto

When compassion begins to flow through us, him, Lord, that I might

God’s power flows. And when God’s power receive my sight.

flows, miracles happen.

And Jesus said unto him,

Go thy way; thy faith

hath made thee whole.

C o n fe s s i o n

And immediately he

God’s love and compassion

received his sight,

haven’t changed; they flow to me and followed Jesus

and through me to heal and deliver.

in the way.

—Mark 10:46-48,51,52

346

December
7

Call on God’s Mercy

a

For thou, Lord,

art good, and

When Bartimaeus called on the mercy of God in ready to forgive;

Mark 10:46-52, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (v. 51).

and plenteous in

Bartimaeus touched the heart of God when he mercy unto all

called on His mercy. During Jesus’ ministry, them that call

many people called on God’s mercy. When they upon thee.

did, blind eyes were opened, deaf ears could —Psalm 86:5

hear, the oppressed were set free from evil spirits, and the sick were healed of sicknesses and diseases.

What good does it do us to know that fact? Well, Psalm 86:5 says that God is plenteous in mercy unto all those who call upon Him. His mercy endures forever, and He doesn’t turn away anyone who calls upon Him.

So just as people called on His mercy 2000 years ago, we can call on His mercy today and have the same results.

There’s a time to rise up and operate in our own faith for our healing and other needs. But there are also times when we just need to get down to business and say, “Lord, have mercy on me. Because Your mercy endures forever and You give to all who ask, have mercy on me.”

God’s mercy is ready to manifest in your life as health, freedom, strength, liberty, wisdom, and everything else you need. When you touch God’s heart by calling on His mercy, He will manifest His mercy to you—spirit, soul, and body.

C o n fe s s i o n

My God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

My God is plenteous in mercy to me because I call upon Him. His mercies are new to me every morning.

347

December
8

Following the Holy Ghost

How God anointed

Jesus of Nazareth

a

with the Holy Ghost

God anointed Jesus with the gifts of the Holy and with power:

Ghost. The gifts were working through Jesus when He walked through the crowd at the pool who went about

of Bethesda and asked a man, “Is it your will to doing good, and

be healed?” The man said, “I have no man….”

healing all that were

But Jesus said, “Get up and walk anyway,” and oppressed of the

the man was instantly healed. (John 5:1-15.) devil; for God

Many times Jesus just walked into a situation was with him.

and delivered a miracle. In Mark 7:32-35, a deaf —Acts 10:38

man with a speech impediment was healed. In Mark 8:22-26, a blind man at Bethsaida was healed. God sent Jesus to those individuals with the gifts of the Spirit in operation. But Jesus couldn’t turn those gifts on and off at will. If He could have, He would have healed everyone in the place every time.

You see, God may not want to manifest Himself through the gifts in each case. If He did, people might begin leaning on the manifestations more than God’s Word.

So Jesus must have had His “spiritual antenna” up all the time, checking to see how the Holy Ghost wanted Him to minister healing. We should do the same.

“But that was Jesus,” you may say. Yes, but Jesus laid aside His mighty power and glory to minister as a man anointed by God. So if that worked for Jesus, it will work for us! He’s the same Holy Ghost who leads and heals today, and He dwells in us

C o n fe s s i o n

The Holy Spirit guides me to receive my own healing and to minister healing to others.

348

December
9

Don’t Consider the Circumstances

a

And being not

weak in faith, he

How could Abraham “stagger not” at the considered not his

promise of God? A 90-year-old woman and a own body now

100-year-old man having a child? That was a dead, when he

big promise! So how was he able to not stagger?

was about an

I mean, today many stagger at “by Jesus’

hundred years

stripes, you were healed.”

old, neither yet the

“Being not weak in faith, he considered not his deadness of

own body.” The word considered in the original Greek means “to observe” or “to perceive.”1 So Sarah’s womb: He

you could say it this way: “And being not weak staggered not at

in faith, he observed not his own body now the promise of

dead, when he was about 100 years old.”

God through

Abraham didn’t sit there and think about how unbelief; but was

his body felt. He didn’t dwell on how old his strong in faith,

body was. He didn’t say, “Oh, Lord, I’m 100 years giving glory

old, and Sarah is 90. It’s just not going to work.”

to God.

Now, Abraham didn’t deny the problem; he —Romans 4:19,20

simply ignored it. Abraham didn’t observe his own body or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He was dwelling on the answer instead of the problem. That’s why he could “stagger not” at the promise of God. And as Abraham filled his heart with the goodness and faithfulness of Almighty God, he became fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform.

C o n fe s s i o n

Being not weak in faith, I consider not my own circumstances.

I consider not my own body or any symptoms. I’m strong in faith, knowing what God has promised, He’s also able to perform in my life.

349

December
1 0

Keep Your Eyes on the Answer

…Abraham lifted up

his eyes, and saw the

a

place afar off. And

If you always have your eyes on the answer and consider only what God said, you’ll overcome in Abraham said unto

the end, re g a rdless of your situation. A good his young men,

example of this principle is the story of Abraham.

Abide ye here with

Abraham’s miracle child, Isaac, was born to the ass; and I and

him and Sarah because they “staggered not” at the lad will go

God’s promise. But Isaac wasn’t the fulfillment yonder and worship,

of the promise; he was just the means to the ful-and come again fillment. God didn’t say, “I’ll give you a son.” He to you.

said, “I have made you the father of many nations.” (Gen. 17:4; 22:17.)

—Genesis 22:4,5

But in Genesis 22, God told Abraham to off e r Isaac as a burnt offering to Him. Abraham would’ve been in trouble if he’d been walking around saying, “I know I’m the father of many nations because I have a son.” If he thought that way, he would’ve responded, “Lord, I can’t do that. Isaac has to live, or I can’t be the father of many nations.”

But Abraham was absolutely convinced if he sacrificed his son, God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill that promise. (Heb.

11:17-19.) So Abraham told the servants, “Both of us will go up, and both of us will come back.” And both of them did!

Don’t take your eyes off the answer—off Jesus and the Word—for anything—whether good or bad. Even when your body feels better, don’t dwell on that. Instead, be fully persuaded that what God says is exactly what will come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

Whether my body feels good or bad, I keep my attention focused on God’s healing promises at work in me.

350

December
1 1

Finishing What Jesus Began

a

Verily, verily, I

say unto you, He

Jesus says we’re to do even greater works than that believeth on

the works He did while He walked on the earth.

But how can we? Jesus explained how: “The me, the works

Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”

that I do shall he

(v. 10).

do also; and

The greater One living in Jesus did the works.

greater works

Jesus always made that clear, saying, than these shall

“ E v e rything I do is My Father’s will. My meat is he do; because

to do My Father’s will. I do what I see My I go unto

Father doing.”

my Father.

Then Jesus said, “I’m going to leave, but I’m —John 14:12

going to send the Holy Spirit, the Comfort e r, and He’ll live within you. Then it won’t just be Me doing the works of the Father all alone. Thousands of believers will p reach the Gospel and lay hands on the sick all over the world. My people will do even greater works because I’m going to be with My Father.”

In Acts 1:1, Luke talks about “all that Jesus began both to do and teach.”

Jesus began to love and forgive people, to teach people, and to lay hands on the sick and see them recover. But He couldn’t do the job all alone, so He sent His Spirit to empower you and me to carry on His work. He has never stopped the ministry He began; He’s continuing through His Church today. It’s up to us to get the job done!

C o n fe s s i o n

I help continue the work Jesus began: teaching and loving people, and laying hands on the sick so they’ll recover. But it’s my Father dwelling in me by the Holy Ghost who does the work.

351

December
1 2

Get in the Life Raft of Deliverance

[The Father] has

delivered and drawn

a

us to Himself out of

When we were delivered from the kingdom of the control and the

darkness, we were delivered from Satan’s rule and authority and everything that’s a part of his dominion of

evil kingdom.

darkness and has

transferred us into

That means we’ve been delivered from spiri-the kingdom of the tual death, disease, bad habits, oppression, and poverty. We don’t have to wait for God to do it; Son of His love.

it’s already been done. We just need to receive —Colossians

and walk in our deliverance.

1:13 AMP

If I were out in the middle of a lake drowning and my father threw me a big inner tube to hang on to, I’d grab hold of it! I wouldn’t say, “Well, I just don’t know if I can take that. You know, I’m the one who fell in the lake, and I probably deserve to be out here. I’d better just see if I can make it through.” If I said that, my father would probably get a little perturbed at me.

I can’t imagine what God must think when we do the same thing spiritually. He’s delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His Son. Yet some sit around nursing their symptoms, saying, “Well, I don’t know if God wants me healed. He may want me to learn something from this sickness.”

No, He’s thrown us a life raft! He wants us to climb out of that sickness and disease and just float on in to safety and health.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’ve been delivered from the dominion of darkness.

I don’t have to be sick anymore. I walk in freedom, safety, and health because I’m in God’s kingdom.

352

December
13

He’s Returning for a Healthy Bride

a

To the end he

may stablish

Jesus Christ, our soon-coming King, is coming your hearts

back for a bride.

unblameable in

Well, how many grooms want to come back for holiness before

a bride who is sick and emaciated? How many grooms say, “Well, Honey, I hope you’re good God, even our

and sick now so I can take you to the altar”?

Father, at the

No, Jesus wants a healthy bride. He’s coming coming of our

soon as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and Lord Jesus

He plans to return for a bride who is without Christ with all

spot or blemish. (Eph. 5:27.) That means in part his saints.

that He wants to come back for a bride who’s walking in health. That’s His will!

—1 Thessalonians

3:13

So receive the healing Jesus purchased for you on the Cross. Walk in the divine health that belongs to you as part of the Church, the bride of Christ. Make sure you’re preparing for the Bridegroom’s return!

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a part of the Church, the bride of Christ. The Bridegroom has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and I walk in all that salvation includes: health, wholeness, deliverance, and safety.

353

December
1 4

Sanctifying Your Food

For every creature

of God is good,

a

When our food is sanctified by the Word and and nothing to be

prayer, we can eat anything without harm if we refused, if it be

partake of it with thanksgiving.

received with

After eating some food back in the bush thanksgiving: for

country, I can tell you from experience this it is sanctified by

verse is true. I didn’t know what we ate and the word of God

decided it was better not to ask. Janet and I just and prayer.

ate the food in faith and didn’t suffer any kind of ill effects from it.

—1 Timothy 4:4,5

We haven’t experienced any problems from eating unknown foods in other countries. We’ve always walked in divine health. Why? Because every time we sit down to a meal, we say, “Thank You, Father, that this food is sanctified by Your Word and prayer.” The food can’t harm us then. We also frequently travel on the road. When I think of some of the restaurants we’ve eaten at along the way, I’m sure glad that prayer works.

The only way you could experience a stomach problem after that kind of prayer is by opening the door to the enemy through fear or worry. And the solution to that is found in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Fear always opens the door to the enemy. And when it comes to food, we never have to fear because God has given us a way to eat safely in faith.

C o n fe s s i o n

I sanctify my food with the Word and prayer.

I’ve been redeemed from the curse of the law, which includes every disease known to man.

354

December
15

Light the Fuse of Faith

a

My speech and

my preaching

The power of God can be defined as the ability was not with

to act supernaturally and miraculously.

According to this verse, our faith is to stand in enticing words

the strength of God’s divine power to remove of man’s

every yoke of bondage from our lives.

wisdom, but in

But is there anything we can do to cause the demonstration of

power of God to manifest?

the Spirit and of

Power is released through faith. Faith is the power: that your

fuse that releases the explosive force residing faith should not

in God’s power. Confession lights the fuse. You stand in the

can put the fuse in, but it does no good unless wisdom of men,

you light it.

but in the power

So confess the Word, and light the fuse of faith.

of God.

Release God’s power to perform miracles in your life!

—1 Corinthians

2:4,5

C o n fe s s i o n

Speaking from a believing heart releases God’s power on my behalf.

I say to my mountain of difficulty, pain, or sickness: “Be removed and cast into the sea!” I don’t doubt in my heart, but believe what I say shall come to pass. And according to the Word, I have what I say.

355

December
1 6

Gain Possession of God’s Word

My son, attend to

my words; incline

a

God is telling us how to find health and abun-thine ear unto my dant life. But these benefits don’t work for sayings. Let them

e v e ryone; God’s promises are conditional.

not depart from

What’s the condition? He said His words are life thine eyes; keep

to those who find them.

them in the midst

I used to think when God said, “unto those that of thine heart. For

find them,” He meant unto those who look up they are life unto

t h ree or four Scriptures in a concordance and those that find

read them a few times and maybe even make them, and health

some notes. But you won’t qualify as one who has grasped the Wo rd just by reading a few verses a to all their flesh.

few times and making lists of Scripture s .

—Proverbs 4:20-22

To find doesn’t mean just to locate. Actually, it means everything but locate. To find means “to attain or acquire, to get a hold upon, to have, to take hold on.”1

God is telling you to do more than just locate Scriptures. He said His words are life to those who attain or take hold of them. In other words, God wants you to stick with His Word until His Word sticks with you.

Jesus desired the same thing for His disciples. In Luke 9:44, He instructed them, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears….”

God’s Word begins to work for you when it becomes rooted and grounded in your heart. So gain possession of the Word and watch it come to pass.

C o n fe s s i o n

As I take hold of and gain possession of God’s Word, it becomes life to me. I believe God’s promises, and they come to pass in my life.

356

December
17

Believe God With Your Heart

a

Let these sayings

sink down into

In today’s civilized societies, we’ve spent a gre a t your ears.

deal of time educating our minds far beyond our spirits. So when we start reading the Bible, our —Luke 9:44

minds often say, “I’ve got this alre a d y. I don’t need to study anymore.” Unfort u n a t e l y, that usually means we’ve grabbed hold of the Wo rd with our minds and not with our heart s .

The only way to believe God’s Word with the heart is to spend time feeding on it. You have to get the Word rooted deep in your heart so that its truth becomes more real than the doubts in your mind.

A lot of people just mentally assent to the Word. In other words, they agree with Scripture in their heads. But you cannot have faith or believe God until the Word is planted in your heart.

You see, you cannot believe God with yout mind. And you certainly can’t believe God with your body. God is a Spirit, and you must believe him with your spirit or with your heart.

When God’s Word takes root in your heart, you can be strong and believe it even in the face of big obstacles. Some of the greatest faith victories come when you’re believing God with your heart while doubts are firing at your mind and symptoms are firing at your body like machine-gun bullets. Plant God’s Word in your heart, believe it, act upon it, and win your victory.

C o n fe s s i o n

God’s Word is life and medicine to my flesh.

I plant it in my heart. I act on it in faith and it works.

357

December
1 8

Follow God’s Instructions

And be not

conformed to this

a

In order for the Word to work successfully, we world: but be ye

must be sure we’re following God’s instruc-transformed by the tions. Many are deceived because they only renewing of your

attempt to stand on the Word and believe God mind, that ye may

for their healing.

prove what is that

I remember some of my early experiences of endeavoring to stand on the Word. When I first good, and

believed God to heal me of the flu, the sickness acceptable, and

didn’t go away for about seven days.

perfect, will of God.

All the while, I knew if I were to let the sickness —Romans 12:2

run its own course, it would also take about seven days. This frustrated me, until one day I realized I’d been doing something wrong. I’d been standing on the right Scriptures. I had them all located and memorized, but the Scriptures weren’t planted on the inside of me. I had some head knowledge, but my heart hadn’t grasped the Word.

How do you plant God’s Word in your heart? Read the Word over and over, study the Word, meditate on the Word, confess the Word—and keep on doing it.

It’s so important for the Word to drop from your head to your spirit or heart because faith is of the heart. As a matter of fact, the difference between victory and defeat in the Christian life is the eighteen inches between your head and your heart. Is the Word planted in your heart?

The answer to that question determines whether or not the Word will work for you.

C o n fe s s i o n

I plant God’s Word deep inside my heart. No matter what obstacle I face, I believe God’s Word is true and gives me the victory.

358

December
19

Pain Doesn’t Change God’s Word

a

This book of the

law shall not

Sometimes people ask me, “I still have pain in depart out of thy

my body. How can I believe I’m healed?” But it doesn’t matter whether or not there ’s pain mouth; but thou

in your body. Pain doesn’t change the pro m i s e shalt meditate

of God.

therein day and

Let me ask you this: Does the pain in your body night, that thou

a ffect the fact that Jesus is coming again? No.

mayest observe

R e g a rdless of the symptoms or circ u m s t a n c e s to do all that is

we deal with in life, we’re always “waiting for written therein….

the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:7).

—Joshua 1:8

Well, if your pain doesn’t affect one of God’s promises, then it doesn’t affect another of His promises. If it doesn’t affect God’s promise of Jesus’ soon return, it doesn’t affect the fact that by His stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24.) You see, as we start believing God’s Wo rd, it will begin working the change we desire in our symptoms, our circumstances, and our problems.

How do we develop our faith in the Word? We feed on it. That means we read it, study it, think about it, meditate on it, and mutter it to ourselves.

Soon our hearts will be so full of the Word that our faith in God’s promises will drive every remnant of pain and sickness away.

C o n fe s s i o n

Even when my body is in pain, the Word of God is still true.

I walk by faith and believe I’m healed from head to toe.

359

December
2 0

God Isn’t Our “Heavenly Butler”

For therein is the

righteousness of

a

Someone once said to me, “You faith people God revealed from

make God sound like a heavenly butler.”

faith to faith: as it

I replied, “Let me ask you something. Suppose is written, The just

you meet someone on this earth who has shall live by faith.

unlimited means. As he gets to know you, this wealthy person decides he likes you and buys —Romans 1:17

twenty years’ worth of everything money can buy—cars, homes, everything.

“Then the rich man says to you, ‘Now, I’ve bought everything you could ever want for the next twenty years. If you need it, want it, or desire it, just come and knock on the door. I have it in a big warehouse, and it’s for you.’

“Now, if you went to the door and said, ‘I could sure use such-and-such,’

would you be pushing that person around or treating him like a ‘butler’?

No, you’d be taking him at his word.”

You might say, “Well, if God spoke to me like that, I’d believe Him.” But He did! God gave you sixty-six books called the Bible and spoke to you in every one of those books! He said, “By Jesus’ stripes, you were healed,”

so healing is yours. He said, “God supplies all your needs,” so all your needs are met.

We’re not pushing God around. Don’t be concerned about that. He’s big enough to handle Himself. No one pushes or controls God.

So just take God at His Word and choose to believe that what He has said, He will do.

C o n fe s s i o n

I go to the Word, my spiritual “warehouse,” and obtain the benefits God has already provided for me.

I take God at His Word and believe healing is mine.

360

December
2 1

The Table Set Before You

a

Thou preparest

a table before

Some folks think the table in Psalm 23:5 re f e r s me in the

to the marriage feast of the Lamb in heaven. But that can’t be right. The marriage feast of the presence of mine

Lamb won’t be in the presence of our enemies— enemies: thou

t h e re won’t be any enemies in heaven.

anointest my

No, God has pre p a red a table before you right head with oil;

in the presence of your enemies down here on my cup runneth

e a rth. Sickness may come running up, re a d y over.

to attach itself to your body. But you have a —Psalm 23:5

table set before you with a big plate of bre a d right in the middle. When sickness pre s e n t s itself, you can say, “God pre p a res a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Healing is the childre n ’s bread. So, pass the bre a d , please!” (Mark 7:25-30.)

Everything you need is spread before you on that table. You have the fruit of the Spirit. You have the milk of the Word to help you grow in God. You have the meat of the Word to make your spirit strong.

So take advantage of the table set before you. No matter what enemy comes to harass you, just sit down at the table and feast on the Word and the children’s bread. You’ll be well taken care of, and there’s not a thing in the world your enemies can do about it.

C o n fe s s i o n

A table is spread for me in the midst of my enemies.

I feast on God’s Word, and it’s life to me and medicine to all my flesh. So please pass the children’s bread.

361

December
2 2

Watch Your Attitude Before God

And [Jesus] spake this

parable unto certain

which trusted in

a

I believe Jesus is trying to show us the differ-themselves that they ence between the two men’s attitudes here. The were righteous, and

Pharisee arrogantly boasted, “I do this and that despised others: Two

and everything else, God; Your blessings belong men went up into the

to me now.” The other man just humbly prayed, temple to pray; the one

“Lord, I don’t deserve anything on my own.

Please just be merciful to me.”

a Pharisee, and the

other a publican. The

I t ’s true we need to stand up in our righteous-Pharisee stood and ness. We ’ re to come boldly before the throne of prayed thus with

grace, and believe and confess the Wo rd in faith.

himself, God, I thank

But we shouldn’t come with an arrogant atti-thee, that I am not as tude like the Pharisee, saying, “You owe me!”

other men are,

God’s mercy, compassion, and grace provided extortioners, unjust,

everything we have in Jesus Christ, and His adulterers, or even as

blessings are a gift. Because of God’s grace this publican. I fast

poured out upon us, we can say, “If we believe twice in the week,

and say what His Wo rd says, it will come to pass.”

I give tithes of all

So be bold when you go before God, but always that I possess.

keep a watch on your attitude. Remember, it’s And the publican,

only by God’s grace that you stand.

standing afar off, would

not lift up so much as

C o n fe s s i o n

his eyes unto heaven,

I’m grateful for all the redemptive

but smote upon his

blessings Jesus purchased for me.

breast, saying, God be

I choose to walk in each one of them.

merciful to me a sinner.

—Luke 18:9-13

362

December
2 3

Blessed Are the Merciful

a

Blessed are the

merciful: for they

The best thing you can do if you need healing in shall obtain

your body is to start praying for other people to be healed.

mercy.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful.” What are —Matthew 5:7

you doing when you’re praying for the sick?

You’re showing God’s mercy. “Blessed are the merciful.” How are the merciful blessed? “For they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7).

People all through the Gospels cried out for merc y, and the blessing they received was healing. You will receive God’s healing mercies as well, as you minister God’s healing mercies to others. This is confirmed in Ephesians 6:8, where it says, “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

Paul states a spiritual principle here: If you’re doing good things, the same good things will be given back to you. Therefore, the best thing you can do when you need healing is to thank God that healing belongs to you and then start finding people to minister to. Go pray for the sick.

Be out doing the work of the ministry, fulfilling the Great Commission, whether your body hurts or not. As you get busy seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and ministering God’s mercy to others, the healing mercies of God will be added to you. (Matt. 6:33.) C o n fe s s i o n

Jesus is my healer. I show His mercy to people and help them receive, and I obtain the healing mercy I need.

363

December
2 4

A Treasure Hidden for Us

And he taught

them many things

a

Jesus began teaching a crowd of people in by parables, and

parables. Later when alone, His disciples asked said unto them in

Him the meaning of the parable of the sower. In his doctrine,

essence they said, “We don’t understand what Hearken; Behold,

You’re talking about.”

there went out a

Jesus said to them, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto sower to sow.

them that are without, all these things are done —Mark 4:2,3

in parables” (v. 11). Then He continued, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (v. 13).

Jesus was saying, “If you gain understanding of this parable, everything else will open up to you.”

Some people read the Bible and say, “I don’t understand the Bible. It’s Greek to me.”

Well, that’s why God gave us the Holy Ghost—to translate, interpret, and teach the Word to us. The reason many people have trouble understanding the Word is that they’ve never let the Holy Ghost be the teacher. They try to read the Bible with their own understanding.

But the Word is revelation truth. Verse 22 AMP says, “[Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known.” God’s revelation truth was hidden not to keep it from us, but to keep it for us.

Every time you open your Bible, ask the Holy Ghost to teach and reveal it to you.

C o n fe s s i o n

The Holy Ghost teaches and enlightens the Word to me.

I’ve planted the Word in my heart, and it’s bearing rich fruit.

364

December
25

Don’t Be a “Have-Hearder”

a

Behold, there went

out a sower to sow.

Jesus is teaching the foundation on which the entire kingdom of God operates: sowing And it came to

and reaping.

pass, as he sowed,

In these verses, Jesus begins to explain, “These some fell by the

are they by the way side, where the word is way side, and the

sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh fowls of the

immediately, and taketh away the word that air came and

was sown in their hearts.”

devoured it up.

How was Satan able to do that? Look at the phrasing: “…but when they have heard … . ”

And these are they

Jesus says they are “have-hearders.” He doesn’t by the way side,

say, “They’re hearing it”; He says, “They have where the word is

heard it.” Satan stole away the Word so easily sown; but when

because the person quit hearing God’s Word they have heard,

and started hearing something else.

Satan cometh

I remember when I thought I knew everything there was to know about Mark 11:24. I’d heard immediately, and

hundreds of different messages about that one taketh away

verse. Then at one meeting, the minister said, the word that

“Open to Mark 11:24,” and I just shut off my was sown in

mind. About six weeks later, I couldn’t figure their hearts.

out why that verse wasn’t working for me. Then I realized I had turned into a “have-hearder.”

—Mark 4:3,4,15

People often say, “I don’t need to hear that again. ” But we must hear every part of God’s Word continually. What we hear today will bear fruit tomorrow.

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m a hearer, not a “have-hearder.” I continually hear the Word.

And as I act on God’s Word in faith, it bears much rich fruit in my life.

365

December
2 6

“Stony Ground” Hearers

And some [seed] fell

on stony ground,

where it had not

a

We’ve all seen these “stony ground” people.

much earth; and

They hear God’s Word and then get really immediately it sprang

excited. They say, “Oh, man, this is so good! I’ve up, because it had no

been looking for this for years!”

depth of earth: but

But these people are also “have-heard e r s . ”

when the sun was

They don’t settle down and continue to hear the up, it was scorched;

Word so the Word they’ve heard never really and because it had

takes root in them.

no root, it withered

The minute persecution and affliction come away.

along for the Word’s sake (and they will), these people stop hearing the Word and start hearing And these are they

the persecution and affliction. In six months, likewise which are

we wonder where they are. They’ve just blown sown on stony

away with the wind.

ground; who, when

As soon as you get a revelation in the Wo rd, the they have heard the

thief will try to steal it away through persecution word, immediately

and affliction. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up receive it with

saying, “Well, I tried that, and it didn’t work.”

gladness; and have

Jesus said these people endure only for a short no root in themselves,

time because they have no root in themselves.

and so endure but for

(v. 17.) God’s Word takes root in us by hearing a time: afterward,

and hearing. What we hear regularly is what when affliction or

bears fruit in our lives.

persecution ariseth

for the word’s sake,

C o n fe s s i o n

immediately they

I attend to God’s Word, so it’s rooted and are offended.

grounded in my heart. When symptoms

—Mark 4:5,6,16,17

attack my body, His Word rises up to heal me.

366

December
27

Watch Out for Thorns

a

And some [seed]

fell among thorns,

How could anything gain enough strength or and the thorns

power to choke the Wo rd and cause it to become grew up, and

u n f ruitful? The cares of this world, the deceit-choked it, and it fulness of riches, and the lusts of other things yielded no fruit.

d o n ’t have enough strength in themselves to do it. It’s what we do with those “thorns” that And these are they

causes them to choke the Wo rd in our lives.

which are sown

This person starts out right. He’s hearing and among thorns;

feeding on the Word of God, and the Word is such as hear the

starting to grow and bear fruit.

word, and the

Then suddenly the cares of this world show up, cares of this

and he starts listening to them. The deceitfulness world, and the

of riches and lusts of other things follow right deceitfulness of

along, and soon he’s feeding on them instead of riches, and the

G o d ’s Wo rd. The “thorns” enter in and choke out lusts of other

the Wo rd, making it unfruitful in his life.

things entering in,

Several years ago, I was trying to share the Wo rd choke the word,

and pray for a man in a hospital. The man finally and it becometh

said, “I guess I was just b o rn bad ground.”

unfruitful.

No, there’s no such thing as being born bad —Mark 4:7,18,19

ground! You decide what kind of ground you’ll be. Will you be the kind of land that never bears fruit, or good ground that bears a return?

C o n fe s s i o n

I’m good ground. I seek the riches of my inheritance in Christ.

The Word is planted in my heart and is bearing good fruit.

367

December
2 8

How To Be “Good Ground”

And other [seed]

fell on good

a

How do you make sure you’re good ground?

ground, and did

Start out hearing God’s Word. When the thief yield fruit that

comes to steal it away, keep on hearing the sprang up and

Word of God. When persecutions and afflictions increased; and

come because of the Word, (and they will brought forth,

come), keep hearing what God says.

some thirty, and

First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, think it not some sixty, and

strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened some an hundred.

unto you.” What do you do when the fiery trials —Mark 4:8

come? You keep on hearing the Word.

The cares of the world will try to distract you, but keep on hearing the Word. The deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things will try to get in your way, but just keep hearing the Word and plowing through. One day the fruit of that Word will start popping up on the other side of all the trials and distractions of life. You’ll reap a harvest that’s thirty-, sixty-, or even a hundredfold.

The Bible says, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings” (Prov. 4:20). If we want healing in our bodies, we must incline our ears unto His sayings. We must hear God’s Word coming from the pulpit, from teaching tapes, CDs, TV, radio, and most importantly, from our own mouths.

Someone may ask, “How long do we hear the Word?” All through eternity; it’s that good. It’s not a chore—it’s a pleasure.

C o n fe s s i o n

What I hear controls the fruit in my life. I desire the fruit of divine healing, so I won’t be distracted from hearing God’s Word.

368

December
29

Shine Forth the Light of God

a

And he said unto

them, Is a candle

The margin in my Bible more accurately trans-brought to be lates the word candle as lamp or light. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, put under a

and a light unto my path.” So this passage in bushel, or under

Mark is talking about God’s Word. Is the Word a bed? and not

to be put under a bushel or a bed instead of set to be set on a

on a candlestick?

candlestick? For

Jesus is saying it’s not meant to be hidden or there is nothing

stuck on a shelf. It’s meant to be on a stand, hid, which shall

where it can shine forth and give life to everyone. In other words, God wants His Word to get not be

on the inside of us so it can start producing life manifested;

on the outside.

neither was any

How do we get God’s Word off the pages of the thing kept secret,

Bible and operating in our lives? How do we but that it should

become living epistles, known and read by all come abroad. If

men? (2 Cor. 3:2.)

any man have

The Word shines forth when we take time to ears to hear, let

hear and feed on it. The more we hear the Word, the more the Word gives us light, truth, him hear.

and understanding. Then we’re able to pass its —Mark 4:21-23

truth on to others.

You see, we’re God’s billboards on this earth. As the Word produces life in us, we shine forth to those around us.

C o n fe s s i o n

As I hear God’s Word, the Holy Ghost reveals Scriptures to me.

God’s light and life are in me, shining forth so others can see.

369

December
3 0

Live on the “More Besides” Side of Life …Take heed what

ye hear: with what

a

Jesus explains in this passage that what we measure ye mete, it

hear determines the kind of fruit we bear in our shall be measured

lives. Too often people listen to the wrong to you: and unto

things, meditate on the wrong things, and feed you that hear shall

on the wrong things.

more be given. For

Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear.” The he that hath, to

Amplified Bible makes verse 24 even clearer: him shall be given:

And He said to them, Be careful what you and he that hath

are hearing. The measure [of thought and not, from him

study] you give [to the truth you hear]

shall be taken even

will be the measure [of virtue and knowl-that which he edge] that comes back to you—and more [ besides] will be given to you who hear.

hath.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live on the —Mark 4:24,25

“more besides” side of life. We decide whether we live on the “barely-getting-along” side or on the “more besides” side.

But notice this: Jesus says, “More [besides] will be given to you who hear.” Will more be given to those who beg and plead or to those who pray all the time? No. Although it’s important to pray, prayer will do no good unless we’re doing what Jesus tells us to do. “More besides” will be given to us only when we set ourselves to hear the truth of God’s Word.

C o n fe s s i o n

I continually hear God’s Word, and “more besides” is given to me in every area of my life as I hear and obey God’s Word.

370

December
31

God Has Said

a

Who hath

believed our

Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that report? and to

believeth” (Mark 9:23). The only qualification He gave us is that we must believe.

whom is the arm

Many would say, “Dear Lord, why did You make of the Lord

it so hard to believe?”

revealed?

And yet, believing is the product, or the off s p r i n g , of God’s Wo rd planted in the human heart. Our —Isaiah 53:1

p roblem hasn’t been our lack of ability to believe; it has been not knowing w h a t to believe. Believing has always seemed like an abstract, intangible mystery.

Someone says, “Man, I’m trying to believe God.”

“What are you trying to believe?”

“I’m trying to believe God!”

But God gets more specific, and asks, “Who hath believed our report? ” In any given situation, we need to find out what God is saying and believe His report.

In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Later the serpent beguiled Eve, saying, “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). Now Eve had two reports. Unfortunately, she chose to believe the serpent’s report.

Whose report do you believe ?

We can either believe what the problem says or what God says. The serpent asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen. 3:1). Yes, He has. God has said something about every situation we’ll ever run into. So if we want God’s power revealed in our lives, let’s believe His report.

C o n fe s s i o n

God said that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed. I choose to believe God’s report. I fully expect His healing power to be revealed in my life.

371

Endnotes

March
22

1

Leeser, p. 256.

March
26

1

Leeser, p. 274.

April
6

1

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Ed., s.v. “redeem.”

May
3

1

Vine, s.v. “life,” Vol. 2, pp. 336-338.

July
6

1

Strong, “Hebrew,” entry #3068, p. 47; entry #7495, p. 110.

July
8

1

Strong, “Hebrew,” entry #5375, p. 80.

2

Strong, “Hebrew,” entry #5445, p. 81.

July
9

1

Leeser, p. 724.

July
17

1

Rotherham, p. 224.

July
22

1

Rotherham, p. 176.

September
3

1

Vine, s.v. “messenger,” Vol. 3, p. 64.

September
27

1

Strong, “Hebrew,” entry #1897, p. 32.

October
16

1

Vine, s.v. ”profession,” Vol. 3, p. 217.

October
22

1

Vine, s.v. “confess,” Vol. 1, p. 224.

October
30

1

Strong, “Greek,” entry #2476, p. 38.

November
22

1

The Companion Bible, Appendix 101, part II, 14, pp. 146-147.

December
9

1

Strong, “Greek,” entry #2657, p. 40.

December
16

1

Strong, “Hebrew,” entry #4672, p. 70.

References

Bosworth, F.F. Christ the Healer. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1877.

Leeser, Isaac. Twenty-Four Books of the Holy Scriptures. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company, 1998.

M e rr i a m - We b s t e r’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Ed., Springfield: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1995.

Rotherham, Joseph Bryant. The Emphasized Bible. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1959.

S t rong, James. S t ro n g ’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.

“ H e b rew and Chaldee Dictionary,” “Greek Dictionary of the New Testament.” Nashville: Abingdon, 1890.

The Companion Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1964, 1970, 1974.

Vine, W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1981.

Prayer of Salvation

God loves you—no matter who you are, no matter what your past. God loves you so much He gave His one and only begotten Son for you. The Bible tells us “…whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). Jesus laid down His life and rose again so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven and experience His absolute best on earth. If you would like to receive Jesus into your life, say the following prayer out loud and mean it from your heart.

Heavenly Father, I come to You admitting that I am a sinner. Right n o w, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, died on the c ross to take away my sins. I also believe that He rose again fro m the dead so I might be forgiven of my sins and made righteous t h rough faith in Him. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus, I choose to follow You and ask that You fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. I declare right now I am a child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior for the first time, please contact us on the Web at www.harrisonhouse.com to receive a free book.

Or you may write to us at

Harrison House

P.O. Box 35035

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74153

About the Author

Mark Brazee has taught the Word of God with unction and precision around the world for more than 25 years, sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the good news of faith and healing. Together, Mark and his wife, Janet, have traveled to more than 40 nations with these truths.

Today, the outreaches of Mark Brazee Ministries span a worldwide network of DOMATA Bible Schools as well as the U.S.-based DOMATA Tulsa.

Mark and Janet also pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world.

Other teaching materials available include an extensive line of CDs and cassettes; books by Mark; music by Janet; and the ministry’s quarterly Vision Magazine. For more information, or to request our catalogue or magazine, please visit www.brazee.org.

To contact Mark Brazee,

please write to:

Mark Brazee Ministries

P.O. Box 470308

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74147-0308

Or visit him on the web at:

www.brazee.org

Please include your prayer requests

and comments when you write.

Other Books by Mark Brazee

31 Days of Healing Devotional

Fear-Free Living in Dangerous Times

Does the Problem Look Bigger Than Your Faith?

Healing: Choice or Chance

Locking Arms for the Harvest—The Power of Partnership Blood, Fire and Vapor of Smoke

Prayer, Power, and Prosperity

Preparing for His Glory

Processing the Plan of God Through Prayer

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Document Outline

- Preliminaries

- Preface

- January

- February

- March

- April

- May

- June

- July

- August

- September

- October

- N ovember

- December

Table of Contents

Preliminaries

Preface

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

N ovember

December